Hatta Rajasa’s Son Suffering From ‘Psychiatric Trauma’ After Fatal Crash

Bayu Marhaenjati

The son of Indonesia’s economic minister is reportedly suffering from psychiatric problems, following a fatal traffic accident he was involved in which left two people dead on New Year’s Day.

M. Rasyid Amrullah Rajasa, 22, the youngest son of Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for the Economy Hatta Rajasa, was driving a BMW SUV when he hit a Daihatsu Luxio minivan on its rear on the Jagorawi toll road, south of Jakarta on Tuesday at 5:45 a.m. Two passengers in the minivan died, namely a 14-month-old baby boy Raihan and a 57-year-old man named Harun.

The child’s mother, older brother and another relative remain hospitalized.

Rasyid was admitted to Pertamina Central Hospital (RSPP) in South Jakarta hours after the accident on Tuesday. An RSPP internist, Abdul Haris, said when Rasyid was admitted he had a stomach ache, headache, was feeling nauseous and was complaining about vomiting.

“After evaluations, we found a problem with the upper part of his digestive tract, accompanied with physical weakness in general and a mental or a psychiatric problem,” Abdul told a press conference at RSPP on Thursday.

“[The mental problem] is related to the psychiatric trauma the patient has sustained after the incident he just went through,” he added.

Psychiatrist Endah Rona Wulan added Rasyid’s psychiatric status was common among people who had endured or witnessed traumatic experiences.
 
“It really affects his physique. He’s having problems eating and sleeping. He’s having anxiety, fear about his future… thus his need for treatment,” Endah said. “We will keep evaluating his condition until it gets optimal.”

It is not clear yet when Rasyid will be discharged from the hospital.

The RSPP medical administrative head, Indra Maulana, said Rasyid’s physical health was now stable, but he still needed to be monitored for his psychiatric problems.

Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Rikwanto said on Wednesday that Rasyid, who tested negative for alcohol and drug use, was a suspect in the case.