Last year, an Indonesian wedding planner was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison after sparks from photo props caused a massive wildfire during a photo shoot for newlyweds.
Andriy Wibowo Eka Wardana, 41, had been encouraging couples to take photos with handheld flares at the nature reserve. According to Jakarta Post.
But the stunt reportedly sparked a fire that continued to burn for several days in September, wiping out 989 hectares of Bromo-Tenger-Semeru National Park on Mount Bromo in East Java province.
The inferno quickly engulfed nearby communities, with local residents ordered to stay indoors and wear masks, with total damage totaling more than Rp 8.3 Rp, or US$500,000.
In addition to Wardana’s prison term, handed down last Wednesday, the judge reportedly ordered him to pay more than $220,000 in restitution.
A leader from the affected village of Ngadisari said the community had “forgiven” Wardana and that “may have been a consideration” in the judge’s decision.
“Although my client had no intention of setting Teletubbies Hill on fire, we still respect the verdict,” the defense lawyer told the court.
Photos of the disaster showed a happy couple holding smoke bombs on a hillside as the flames spread, seemingly oblivious to the wildfire sparking behind them.
