Latest on trial of pilot
By Adam Gartrell in Jakarta
February 23, 2009 06:58pm
PROSECUTORS are seeking just four years' jail for the pilot of a Garuda plane that crashed killing 21 people, including five Australians.
The Garuda Indonesia Boeing 737 slammed onto the runway at Yogyakarta airport, careered into a field and exploded in flames on March 7, 2007.
Marwoto Komar has been facing trial in the Sleman District Court, in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, charged with deliberately crashing the plane, a charge that carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
But prosecutors declared they would only seek convictions for less serious criminal negligence charges.
Mr Komar's lawyer Muhammad Assegaf said the more serious charge was never intended to be used against flight crew.
"It was meant for terrorists who hijacked a plane," Mr Assegaf said.
"I don't agree that flight crew should be treated the same as terrorists."
The case is due to return to court on March 10.
The Australians killed in the crash were diplomat Liz O'Neill, AusAID official Allison Sudradjat, Australian Federal Police Officers Brice Steele and Mark Scott, and Australian Financial Review journalist Morgan Mellish.
A government probe found Mr Komar ignored 15 automated cockpit warnings not to land as he brought the plane in at roughly twice the safe speed.
Mr Komar's pilot licence was suspended and he was sacked by Garuda.
Indonesia, which relies heavily on air links across the archipelago, has one of Asia's worst air safety records.