JAKARTA - The Ministry of Transportation has found a number of serious alleged violations on the Antar Lintas Sumatera (ALS) bus that was involved in a fatal accident on the Lintas Sumatera Simpang Danau Road, Karang Jaya District, Muratara Regency.
Director General of Land Transportation of the Ministry of Transportation, Aan Suhanan, said that as a follow-up to the accident, the Ministry of Transportation checked the ALS bus with the police number BK 7778 DL at the scene.
"We share the grief over the accident that took many lives on Jalan Lintas Sumatera. We came to the location and checked the vehicles involved," Aan said in an official statement, Thursday, May 7.
Aan said that based on the results of the field inspection, the ALS bus with the police number BK 7778 DL no longer had an operating permit since November 4, 2020.
"It is known that this ALS bus has not had a permit since November 4, 2020. Meanwhile, the data for the Electronic Test Pass Certificate (BLUe) is still valid until May 11, 2026," he said.
In addition to the operating permit which has expired, continued Aan, officers also found indications of forgery of vehicle license plates. The findings emerged after an investigation in the field found a difference in the frame number on the ALS bus vehicle.
"Based on the violations committed, of course, it has the potential to be subject to administrative sanctions in the form of freezing the permit for six to 12 months and can also be subject to revocation of the permit for the provision of Public Motor Vehicle Transportation in the route. Regarding the imposition of sanctions, we will first investigate further," he said.
Aan explained that the ALS bus can be categorized as committing a serious violation as stipulated in the Minister of Transportation Regulation Number 15 of 2019 concerning the Implementation of Public Motor Vehicle Transportation of People on Routes.
The violations include alleged falsification of valid travel documents, operation of vehicles with expired permits, and operational negligence resulting in accidents with fatalities.
However, Aan said the Ministry of Transportation would still conduct an inspection audit of the operator company to investigate all findings in the field.
Before the accident occurred, the ALS bus was known to pass through the Tipe A Batay Terminal, Lahat, with a destination of Medan and carrying a manifest of 10 passengers. Next, at the Lubuklinggau Terminal, the bus was recorded to depart at 10.00 WIB with a total manifest of 18 people consisting of 14 passengers and four crew members.
The accident resulted in 16 people dying, consisting of 11 bus passengers, three bus crew, and two tanker truck crew. Meanwhile, four other people were injured.
On the same day, Aan also visited the accident victim at the Rupit Regional General Hospital with the Director of the National Police's Traffic Police, Faizal, and the Director of Operations of PT Jasa Raharja, Ariyandi.
"Regarding the cause of the accident, the Directorate General of Transportation is waiting for the results of the investigation from the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) and the investigation of the National Police," concluded Aan.
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