Bandung’s 13-Year-Old Minivan Driver Shocks Netizens

A 13-year-old angkot (minibus) driver in Bandung, West Java, has shocked netizens after photos of the child at the wheel went viral on April 25.

The photo was posted by Bandung-based netizen @ Dianmeindra on her Twitter account. “I was very surprised when I got on the angkot. The driver was just a kid and he is not even 15 years old yet,” she said in the post.

Netizens were angered at local authorities after the child, identified only by the initials GMA, drove with several passengers. Police are now investigating the incident after the post gained significant traffic on the web.

GMA told local media he was taking his usual route in the Logam Buahbatu area to his home on Parabon Street when he was approached by a brown angkot with the license plate D1933AM. The driver, identified as Ronald Tambunan, reportedly asked GMA to drive the vehicle as he had a stomach ache.

The fifth grader had learned to drive only two weeks earlier and said this was his third time driving. Tambunan claims GMA is known among angkot drivers in the area and often drives short distances. He says he taught the child to drive and the two often drive together.

Bandung Police Chief Hendro Pandowo is investigating angkot management over the claims. Local police are working alongside the Department of Transportation in the case.