Police Probe Claim Magnetic Field Triggered Green SM Stall in Bekasi

6 hours ago 1

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Jakarta Metropolitan Police (Polda Metro Jaya) has involved the Indonesian National Police Forensic Laboratory Center (Puslabfor) to examine claims that electric and magnetic fields at a railway crossing may have caused an electric taxi to stall in East Bekasi.

The vehicle is part of Green SM, an electric ride-hailing service operating in Indonesia.

The investigation is part of a probe into a train accident that occurred on Monday night, April 27, 2026.

Polda Metro Jaya Public Relations Head Commissioner Budi Hermanto said investigators are still examining technical factors that caused the vehicle to stop on the tracks.

“This could be very dangerous if it happens at railway crossings where there are magnetic and electric fields. This will be studied by Puslabfor,” Budi said in Central Jakarta on Thursday, April 30, 2026.

The investigation began after the electric vehicle reportedly shifted into a parking mode while crossing the tracks. Shortly after, the Argo Bromo Anggrek train traveling from Gambir to Surabaya Pasar Turi collided with a commuter train bound for Cikarang at East Bekasi Station.

Budi said Puslabfor will test whether electromagnetic interference from the railway environment affected the vehicle system and caused the engine to shut down.

“The focus of Puslabfor is to determine whether there was any influence from electric or magnetic fields that caused the engine to shut off and the transmission to shift into park,” he said.

In addition to technical examinations, police are also questioning the electric taxi driver, identified by the initials RRP. The vehicle has been seized as evidence.

Budi said a urine test was also conducted on the driver.

“Yes, that has been done,” he said when asked about possible alcohol influence.

He added that RRP remains a witness in the case for now. Investigators are also examining the vehicle’s system and the operational procedures of the ride-hailing company as part of the ongoing probe into the cause of the accident.