Should RIM be held responsible for the Blackberry stampede in Indonesia?

Police in Indonesia say a Canadian executive at Research In Motion is suspected of negligence in the events leading up to a stampede at a Blackberry promotion in Jakarta last month.

Blackberry is by far the most popular smartphone brand in Indonesia with 6 million users. (iStock)Several people fainted and dozens were injured at the global debut of the BlackBerry Bold 9790. The first 1,000 people through the door were offered a 50 per cent discount on the $540 phone.

More than 3,000 people showed up at Pacific Place mall and when rumours spread that the smartphones were sold out, the crowd surged toward the doors.

Andy Cobham, RIM's outgoing country director, is among four suspects who could face charges, said police spokesman Col. Baharudin Djafar on Monday.

Cobham could face as much as nine months in prison if he is convicted.

Should a RIM executive in Canada be held responsible for the Blackberry stampede in Indonesia? Did the half-off promotion lead to the injuries? Let us know what you think.



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