ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA — Nearly one month after a deadly fire tore through the Terra Drone Indonesia office in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, killing 22 employees, new facts continue to emerge. Rather than bringing closure, the investigation has exposed deeper layers of alleged negligence pointing to systemic management failure.
What was initially described as a workplace accident is now increasingly viewed as the result of chronic and repeated safety violations, raising serious questions about corporate accountability.
Suspected Fire Source and Alleged Foreign Operational Control
Information from a credible internal source indicates that the fire was likely triggered by high-risk drone batteries that were not managed in accordance with occupational health and safety standards. However, the technical cause is only part of the story.
The source alleges that operational control of Terra Drone Indonesia did not rest with local management. Instead, day-to-day operations were allegedly directed by WO, a Singaporean national residing in Malaysia, and KK, a Japanese national. Both were reportedly issuing operational instructions through online communications, including email and WhatsApp groups.
Meanwhile, Michael Wishnu Wardana (MWW)—whose name appears in the company’s formal corporate structure and who has since been named a suspect by police—is alleged to have functioned merely as a nominee.
His reported shareholding is less than one percent, and he is suspected of having little to no real authority over operational or strategic decisions at the Kemayoran office.
A Pattern of Hidden Incidents
More alarming still, the same source claims that similar fire incidents had previously occurred at the Kemayoran office but were extinguished before escalating and never disclosed publicly.
In addition, battery-related incidents allegedly causing the death of an employee were said to have occurred at Terra Drone Malaysia—also under WO’s control—as well as in Riau, Indonesia. These incidents, according to the source, were never widely reported.
If verified, these findings suggest that the Jakarta tragedy was not an isolated event, but the culmination of a long-standing pattern of ignored safety risks, ultimately costing dozens of lives.
“This is no longer just a workplace accident, but clear evidence of management failure in ensuring employee safety,” the source stated on Friday, January 9, 2026.
Police Confirm Multiple Safety Violations, Name Michael as Suspect
These allegations are now reinforced by official findings from Indonesian law enforcement.
Police have confirmed a series of serious safety lapses that they believe directly contributed to the fatal fire.
Head of Criminal Investigation at Central Jakarta Police, AKBP Roby, said suspect Michael Wishnu Wardana was aware of the risks posed by the unsafe conditions. Investigators found that Michael knew employees were exposed to potential dangers but failed to implement preventive measures.
“The suspect was aware of the risks, including threats to employee safety. However, he has been unable to explain why workplace safety training was never conducted,” Roby told reporters.
Michael was formally named a suspect two days after the fire and officially detained on 13 December 2025.
Investigators identified at least six forms of negligence, including:
– Absence of standard operating procedures for storing high-risk batteries
– Failure to appoint a workplace safety (K3) officer
– No fire or safety training provided to employees
– Lack of dedicated storage areas for flammable materials
– Inadequate emergency exits and evacuation routes
– Insufficient fire safety systems in the building
The six-story building on Jalan Letjen Suprapto, Cempaka Baru, Kemayoran, was deemed unfit for emergency conditions, despite housing high-risk operational activities.
Police stated that the investigation remains ongoing and that additional parties may still be held criminally liable as the case develops.
Victims’ Families: Compensation “Nowhere Near Enough”
Amid deep grief, families of the victims have expressed disappointment with the company’s response.
Ali (a pseudonym), a relative of one of the victims, said the assistance provided by Terra Drone was grossly inadequate.
“Yes, there was some compensation, but the amount is nowhere near proportional to the loss of a human life,” he said.
A Crucial Test for Law Enforcement
With one of the deadliest workplace fires in Jakarta’s recent history, the public is now watching closely to see whether law enforcement will pursue the case beyond formal domestic figures and uncover who truly controlled the company and made key decisions.
If accountability stops at a single name and fails to reach the real decision-makers, the risk of similar tragedies recurring remains dangerously high.
This case has become a critical test for Indonesia’s justice system: whether it will stand firmly for human life and accountability, or yield to power and capital. (AT Network)
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