Six killed in Christmas period traffic

accidents in North Sumatra

The North Sumatra Police have recorded 12 traffic accidents leaving six people dead in areas
across the province over the past three days.

Police collected the data during a security operation named Operation Toba Candle (Operasi
Lilin Toba) to secure this year’s Christmas and New Year festivities.

Three travellers were severely injured in incidents in Medan that took place from Saturday to
Monday, while 14 others sustained light wounds, North Sumatra Police spokesperson Adj. Sr.
Comr. MP Nainggolan told news agency Antara.

On Saturday, police recorded three traffic accidents in the regencies of Toba Samosir and
Deliserdang. Two travelers, identified as Tiarma Sihaloho, 47, and Sudiro, 58, were killed in
the accident in Deliserdang.

Three traffic accidents occurred in Binjai, Deliserdang and Toba Samosir on Sunday. A
university student identified as Bakti Sianipar, 21, died during the accident in Toba Samosir,
which took place on the Medan-Tarutung highway in the village of Tambunan Lumban Gaol,
Balige district.

The highest number of accidents was recorded on Monday, when three people were killed in
six accidents. They are Derima Nofiani Maruwu, Syahnun Wijaya, 14, and Bambang Willer
Gultom, 19. Another victim suffered severe injuries, while eight others were lightly wounded.
(afr/ebf)
Bali Nine member could be free next year:
Official

After spending years behind bars, Renae Lawrence, an Australian woman and member of the
Bali Nine drug trafficking syndicate, could be free soon, a Bangli prison official said.

“She [Lawrence] could be free by May next year,” Bangli prison warden Diding Alpian
confirmed on Monday.

The drug convict received a two-month Christmas remission.

“For her crime, the court not only imposed Lawrence with a prison sentence but also ordered
her to pay Rp 1 billion (US$73,000) in fines. “If she cannot pay the fine, she must serve an
additional six months in prison; so, she may be freed in November next year,” said Diding.

Lawrence was among four prisoners at Bangli prison granted Christmas remission this year.
“We gave remission to prisoners who have been well behaved,” said Diding.

Lawrence was among nine Australians arrested for attempting to smuggle 8.3 kilograms of
heroin out of Indonesia in April 2005.

She was the only woman in the group and received the lightest sentence.

Two syndicate members, Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan, were sentenced to death and
executed on Nusakambangan prison island.

Meanwhile, other members are serving life sentences in separate prisons in Bali and East
Java. (ebf)