Indonesian police announced Thursday, October 6 the indictment of six people, including three police officers, after the stampede which left 131 dead in a stadium last weekend, one of the worst tragedies in the history of football.
Among the accused are also the head of the Arema FC team's organizing committee and one of the club's security officers, national police chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo told a conference Press.
Read alsoIndonesia: 32 children among the dead in a deadly stampede, police officers sanctioned
The suspects, identified after a few days of investigation which unearthed "
evidence
", he added, were charged with "
negligence causing death
" and face up to five years in prison.
The announcement comes as anger is mounting in the country against the police, accused by supporters of having aggravated a crowd movement during this match organized in the city of Malang, in the east of the island. of Jaa.
The tragedy occurred when fans of Arema FC, who were playing at home, took to the pitch to challenge players and managers after their defeat by rival team Persebaya Surabaya.
Read alsoDrama in a football stadium in Indonesia: relatives in anguish after the deadly stampede
Police called the event a riot and claimed that two officers were killed.
Survivors of the tragedy, however, accused her of having overreacted by sending tear gas into the stands.
Police tried to forcibly control the crowd on the pitch with batons, according to witnesses and video footage, but this encouraged more supporters to come and lend a hand to those already on the pitch.
Police said some exits from the stadium were open but too small to allow everyone to pass through.
The Indonesian Football Federation spokesman said on his side that some gates which should have been opened 10 minutes before the final whistle remained closed.
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