Captain suspect in boat capsize

Captain suspect in boat capsize

Nana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post, Cirebon, West Java

Police named on Monday the captain of the Bunga Muwarta motorized fishing boat a suspect in Sunday's accident in the waters of Cirebon that left 10 people, mostly children, dead.

Cirebon Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Musyafak said the skipper, Udin Bin Dayim, 20, will be charged with negligence and violation of Article 359 of the Criminal Code. The article carries a maximum of 10 years imprisonment upon conviction.

Musyafak said Udin boarded 22 passengers plus his mechanic in the vessel, which had a maximum capacity of not more than six adults, during a good luck ceremony.

"This is definitely extraordinary negligence," Musyafak said.

The vessel sank around 35 kilometers east of Cirebon as its passengers struggled for food offerings floating in the sea as part of a traditional Nyadran ceremony held by residents of Ambulu village in Losari subdistrict.

The police identified the dead as Selfin Yusuf bin Kaslan, 6, Rina binti Slamet, 12, Andi bin Sewas, 3, Rumini binti Ratno, 12, Raenah binti Kusnadi, 13, Nano bin Dayin, 10, Wamin bin Karyo, 11, Turisah binti Daslam, 9, Rojudin bin Tayam, 26, and Saeri binti Suti, 52.

Two of the 12 injured passengers are being treated at Cirebon's Waled hospital, while 10 others are in the general hospital in the neighboring town of Brebes in Central Java.

Musyafak said the police were also questioning Udin's assistant, Wasnari, and the event's organizing committee chairman, Kusnadi.

"They are being questioned as witnesses, but if we find evidence of their role in the accident, their status could be changed into suspects," Musyafak said.