2 Chinese Foreigners Defendant Of The Morowali Smelter Tungku Explosion Will Soon Be Tried

Investigators from the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Morowali Police submitted evidence of the explosion of the PT ITSS nickel smelter stove to the Morowali Kejari in Morowali Regency, Central Sulawesi, Wednesday (6/3/2024). BETWEEN/HO-Humas Polda Central Sulawesi.

Central Sulawesi (Central Sulawesi) Regional Police stated that the case files for two foreign nationals (WNA) from China, a suspect in the explosion of the nickel smelter furnace belonging to PT. Indonesia Tsingshan Stainless Steel (ITSS) have been declared complete or P.21 by the Morowali District Attorney (Kejari).

"The case file for the explosion of the nickel smelter furnace of PT. Indonesia Tsingshan Stainless Steel was declared complete by the Morowali Kejari on February 27, 2024," said Head of Sub-Division of Public Information at the Central Sulawesi Police, Kompol Sugeng Lestari, quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, March 6.

Investigators from the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Morowali Police handed over two suspects with the initials ZG (41) and Z (35) who are foreign workers, along with evidence to the Public Prosecutor of the Morowali Kejari today.

By handing over the responsibility of the suspect and the evidence, the investigation stage by the police has been completed.

"Furthermore, we will wait together for the trial process in court," said Sugeng.

Previously, the explosion of a smelter stove belonging to PT ITSS in the Indonesia Morowali Industri Park (IMIP) area occurred in Morowali Regency, Central Sulawesi on Sunday (12/24/2023).

As a result of the incident, 59 employees were recorded as victims, of whom 21 died, with details of eight foreign workers from China and 13 local workers, and the rest were injured.

Based on the results of the investigation and investigation, the police suspect that there was an element of negligence and a violation of work safety (K3) in the explosion of the nickel smelter.

The police then named two suspects, namely ZG as the supervisor of finance or Supervisor FurnacePT Zhao Hui Nickel who was seconded to PT ITSS, and suspect Z is Deputy SupervisorPT Ocean Sky Metal Indonesia (OSMI).