After a soccer match in Indonesia, a mass panic broke out on the field: 131 people died. Because the police used tear gas on a massive scale, several officers and security forces now have to answer for manslaughter. You face several years in prison.
After the mass panic in an Indonesian football stadium with 131 dead, six people have been accused of negligent homicide by the judiciary. The Indonesian police chief Sigit Prabowo said the three were police officers and three were responsible for the security of the game, including the head of the organizing committee of the Arema FC club.
Two of the accused police officers gave the order to use tear gas in the Malang stadium in the east of the island of Java, the police chief said. The third police officer knew about the safety regulations of the world football association Fifa, which prohibit the use of tear gas on the sidelines, but did not prevent this use. The accused face prison sentences of up to five years.
Thousands of fans stormed the pitch of Kanjuruhan Stadium after the end of the Premier League match between Arema FC and Persebaya FC in Malang city. The police used tear gas on a massive scale and pushed people back into the stands with batons and kicks, survivors said. A mass panic ensued, and for many there was no escape.
According to the authorities, 4,000 more tickets had been sold than permitted. According to witnesses, some exits from the stadium were also said to have been closed. While some spectators were able to climb over fences to safety, weaker ones were crushed to death at their feet. Most of the victims died from lack of oxygen. It is one of the worst stadium disasters in football history.
Personnel consequences were already drawn on Tuesday. Two Arema FC officials have been banned for life, the Indonesian Football Association said. "Abdul Haris, as senior match organizer, and Suko Sutrisno, as match safety coordinator, are banned from footballing activities for life," said Erwin Tobing, a member of the federation's Disciplinary Committee (PSSI). In addition, Arema will not be allowed to host any more games for the rest of the season and will have to pay a fine of 250 million rupees (16,600 euros). The police chief of the city of Malang, Ferli Hidayat, was relieved of his post. Nine other officers were suspended. At least 28 police officers are being investigated for alleged breaches of professional ethics.
