'Gurita' case to be pursued

BANDA ACEH, Aceh: Government officials tried yesterday to ease concerns that the case of the Gurita ferry disaster, which claimed 338 lives in January, will not make it to court.

"The public or relatives of the victims shouldn't be worried. We're not going to 'freeze' the case," Zubir Rahmat of Aceh's Prosecutor's Office was quoted by Antara as saying yesterday.

"The dossiers for the five suspected of being responsible for the disaster are expected to be completed by the end of October," he said.

The ferry sank while sailing from Malahayati/Krueng Raya near Banda Aceh to Sabang, the main town on Weh Island opposite Aceh.

Five people, ranging from age 33 to 54, have been named as suspects.

The agency reported that a sixth suspect may be named. "The problem is, the sixth person always goes into a shock when the investigators try to question him," Zubir said. (swe)