BlackBerry Bargain Sparks Stampede in Indonesia, Police Holds Departure of RIM Exec
Police in Indonesia are not allowing the head of Research in Motion (RIM) in the country to leave Jakarta for being one of the suspects who triggered a stampede during a bargain sale of BlackBerry smartphones inside a mall.
Andrew Cobham, president and director of the Indonesia branch of the BlackBerry manufacturer, was named suspect in the incident that injured dozens of people at the Pacific Place mall on Nov. 25.
The other suspects, who were charged with negligence resulting into injuries, were Terry Burki, a security consultant hired by RIM, Edwin, one of the organizers of the BlackBerry promotional event, and Markus from the mall.
In the Nov. 25 event, RIM offered 50 percent discount on BlackBerry Bold 9790 or Bellagio for the first 1,000 buyers who fall in line. The smartphone originally sells for $506.
People started thronging to the mall a day earlier to be first in line. During the queuing, a scuffle broke out when customers got frustrated upon hearing from others that the touch screen with QWERTY keyboard Bellagio was sold out.
The stampede followed causing 90 people to faint while others suffered broken bones.
RIM Indonesia issued a statement that they are cooperating with authorities investigating the incident.
"We are also undertaking our own investigation to prevent any reoccurrence of this sort of situation," RIM said, according to Jakarta Post.