Zaky Pawas & Nurfika Osman

Cigarette Did Not Explode, Police Say

No, it wasn’t an exploding cigarette that knocked out a security guard’s teeth last week.

Andi Susanto, 31, said he had been riding his motorcycle along Jl. Teuku Umar in Cibitung, Bekasi, on Jan. 28, while smoking a Bentoel Clas Mild — marketed as the ultimate experience of satisfaction and smoothness — when a mysterious explosion blew five teeth from his mouth and required numerous stitches. His helmet was also found to have cracked.

On Monday, two more of his teeth had to be removed by a dentist.

But a scientific examination of the cigarette’s remains showed no traces of explosive powder and neither did Andi’s wounds, Bekasi Police Chief Herry Wibowo told the Jakarta Globe.

“The forensic examination results showed that his wound is not from an explosion but from being hit by a blunt object,” Herry said.

But he was unable to definitively say where the blunt object may have come from.

“Maybe there was a truck grinding out a stone then the stone bounced off and hit his face,” Herry said.

Andi’s mother, Nini, told the Globe that her son’s mouth was healing.

“He is home now and we are going to have a check up on [Friday],” she said.

Nini thanked Bentoel for covering all her son’s medical bills. The cigarette maker has paid Rp 5 million ($535) in compensation as well as all of Andi’s immediate expenses at the Bekasi General Hospital and will also fund his ongoing rehabilitation treatment.

“All the medical expenses will be paid by the company until he fully recovers,” she said.

Iwan Sulistyo, the marketing chief of the Clas Mild brand, confirmed the report.

“We are responsible as Andi is our customer,” Iwan told the Globe.

“We will pay all his medical expenses until he fully recovers,” he said.