Jakarta (ANTARA News) - A blind man was trampled to death in a crowd jostling for a turn to exchange Idul Fitri greetings with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the palace here on Friday.

Joni Malela, who was 45 years old, died in an ambulance that was taking him to hospital after falling to the ground and trampled in a rush at the front gate of the State Secretariat building.

According to witnesses, Joni tried to get out of the crowd but he could not, and was even pushed forward and finally trampled to death.

A Jakarta health officer who was standing by at the gate, Theresia Indah Susanti, said Joni was weak when he was taken to the ambulance and he died after being treated for 10 minutes.

"He was given oxygen but he did not react to it, and died," she said.

Theresia said Joni died with no injuries and therefore it was believed he had died of suffocation after being trampled on.

The body of the blind man from Cinangka, Bogor, West Java, was then taken to Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital.

Thousands of people gathered at the gate of the State Secretariate to get a turn to shake hands with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on the occasion of Idul Fitri.
Dozens of other people also fainted after being squeezed while seeking entry into the palace.

Some people said they were enthusiastic to shake hands with the President because they heard they would each get Rp300,000 from the President.

Presidential spokesman Julian Aldrin Pasha however denied the information.
(T.D013/Uu.H-YH/HAJM/P003)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
COPYRIGHT © 2012

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