North Halmahera Police (Polres) are investigating the alleged negligence of porters and climbing guides related to the eruption of Mount Dukono which killed a foreign citizen (WNA) from Singapore.
"We are conducting an in-depth investigation, and if it is proven that there was negligence that caused casualties, porters and guides can be charged with a criminal offense, so for the time being the investigation process is still ongoing," said North Halmahera Police Chief AKBP Erlichson Pasaribu as reported by ANTARA, Saturday, May 9.
The Police Chief emphasized that climbing activities to Mount Dukono were prohibited during the Level II Alert status because the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) had set a three-kilometer radius from the crater to be sterile.
"This is not an official tourist route. There is no climbing permit," he said.
Based on the report of Basarnas Ternate, a total of 20 climbers were affected by the eruption of Mount Dukono. Of these, nine people were foreigners from Singapore and the other 11 were Indonesian citizens (WNI).
Two Singaporean WNA were reported dead and another one was still being searched by the joint SAR team.
"If proven to be in violation, the porter and guide can be charged under Article 359 of the Criminal Code regarding negligence that causes death with a threat of five years in prison," he said.
Previously, the Head of the Basarnas Ternate Search and Rescue Office, Iwan Ramdani, said that seven Singaporean WNA were found in a safe condition.
Meanwhile, the victims who are still being searched are Heng Wen Qiang Timothy (30) and Shahin Muhrez bin Abdul Hamid (27) from Singapore and one Indonesian citizen named Enjel.
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