It was one of the darkest days in world sports when the Indonesia stampede on Saturday (October 1), shocked sports fans worldwide and lead to the killing of at least 131 people. The stampede at stadium in the Malang region of East Java saw soccer fans trying to flee as police fired tear gas to control riot but found several exits locked.
As many as six people — including police and match organisers — are facing criminal charges in Indonesia, the country’s police chief revealed on Thursday (October 06). Addressing a news conference, police chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo said that organisers and police are among those being investigated whereas some others might also be charged. Those found guilty would be charged with criminal negligence causing death, carrying a maximum five-year prison sentence. The suspects include three police officers who resorted to the usage of tear gas, the head of the organising committee as well as the chief security officer of Arema FC.
ALSO READ | I want to know the root cause for deadly stampede: Indonesian President to order stadiums’ audit
Indonesian President Joko Widodo had said that he would also dwell deep into the details of the tragic incident and order an audit of all the football stadiums in the country to find the “root” cause.
Widodo was in the city of Malang to visit relatives of the stampede victims and talk to the wounded at a hospital. “I want to know the root of the problem that caused this tragedy so that we can get the best solution,” he said. “I will order the public works minister to audit all stadiums used for the (football) league,” he said outside the Saiful Anwar hospital in Malang, claiming that he has spoken to FIFA’s president about improving Indonesia’s “football management”.
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