14 Witnesses Examined For The Sinking Case Of PCR Students

PEKANBARU - A total of 13 students and the Head of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering Polytechnic Caltex Riau (PCR) were questioned by the police regarding the death of Chandra Ari Kusuma (19) as a result of drowning in the Kampar River, Kampar Regency, Riau, during a camp a few days ago.

"14 witnesses have been examined. The examination was carried out to determine the chronology of the incident," said Head of Public Relations of the Riau Police, Kombes Nandang Mu'min Wijaya in Pekanbaru as reported by ANTARA, Thursday, June 8.

Nandang explained, initially the victim with Ari Dodi Romeo, Fikri Nakwan Rosandri, Septia Riandra Mandala was ordered by his seniors to clean up the body in the river after bathing in a mud puddle on Saturday (3/6) at around 11.00 WIB.

"Then one of the senior (students) ordered the victim and his colleagues to turn a blind eye using a black cloth and holding a stick, guided by senior Rizal Akbar to the river," continued Nandang.

At that time, one of the students who accompanied the victim admitted that he could not swim and asked the riverbank. But soon there were shouts of help from the victim and his partner.

"Friends of the victim and Aldi Pratama immediately tried to withdraw Septia Riandra Mandala. Meanwhile, Fikri and Ari Dodi were helped by senior David. However, the victim could not be helped and immediately washed away," said Nandang.

After the incident, the joint SAR team searched for victims who had been lost by the current. After a five-day search, the victim was finally found floating about 300 meters from the scene, Wednesday (6/6) at around 18.00 WIB.

"Based on the examination of the Chairman of the Committee, Wadi Muhammad Zaki, the inauguration of the prospective members of the PCR Electric Engineering Student Association is not an official campus activity because they do not know the campus," he added.

Regarding the case, the police have also secured evidence in the form of black cloth with eye coverings as well as wooden and iron sticks as a prop for student participants.