Bridge collapse suspects to be interviewed

JAKARTA, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Police in Indonesia say they'll question three officials suspected in the November collapse of a bridge over the Mahakam River, causing the deaths of 22 people.

National Police Headquarters Inspector Gen. Saud Usman Nasution said police in Kutai Kartanegara, East Kalimantan province, will interview two officials at the Kutai Kartanegara public works office Tuesday and the third suspect, the manager of the bridge's maintenance project for the company P.T. Bukaka, Wednesday, Antara news agency reported.

"Hopefully, the information to be obtained during the questioning will lead to the naming of other suspects, while other cases relating to this are being studied by the Kutai Kartanegara police," Saud said.

The Nov. 26 Kartanegara bridge collapse also injured 39 people and caused the disappearance of 14 others.

Police have questioned 53 witnesses.

The suspects could be charged under the criminal code with negligence that caused injuries or deaths.

P.T. Bukaka has said that when the bridge collapsed, it had not started a maintenance project but had only initiated preparatory work, but police found witnesses, including some victims, and photos showing maintenance work had started Nov. 24, Antara said.

The nearly 790-yard-long bridge, built in 1995, connects Tenggarong city with Tenggarong Seberang in Kutai Kartanegara district.