Police examine 21 witnesses in KM Nurul Salsa sinking case

Makassar - Police have examined 21 witnesses in the case of alleged negligence leading to the sinking of the KM Nurul Salsa, which occurred on Wednesday, 17 June 2026, in the Selayar waters of the Selayar Islands Regency, South Sulawesi. The witnesses questioned include the captain, crew members, the shipping agent, and the harbour master’s office. South Sulawesi Police Head of Public Relations, Commissioner Didik Supranoto, stated that the investigation is ongoing and no suspects have yet been named. If suspects are identified, the potential articles to be applied are Article 474 paragraph 2 of the Criminal Code, Article 551 letter A of the Criminal Code, and Article 20 of the Criminal Code. These will be applied according to each individual’s role or fault in the sinking of the Nurul Salsa. No detentions have been made as the case is still under investigation. According to the manifest data, there were 45 passengers, but subsequent victim data based on identification and reports indicated 76 people were on board. This points to overloading, as the manifest listed 45 but 76 were actually on the KM Nurul Salsa, suggesting data manipulation. Regarding the vessel’s seaworthiness, the police noted that this is the purview of the licensing authority, specifically the harbour master, not the police. The results of the harbour master’s inspection will be communicated later. The penalty under Article 474 of the Criminal Code for negligence causing death carries a maximum sentence of five years. Article 551 letter A, concerning document forgery in the context of the KM Nurul Salsa sinking, carries a maximum sentence of eight years. Article 20 of the Criminal Code pertains to participation in a criminal act, with penalties to be adjusted accordingly. The police are also investigating whether animals were on board the ill-fated vessel and whether an engine failure contributed to the accident. Separately, the Head of the South Sulawesi Police Medical and Health Division, Commissioner Muhammad Haris, confirmed that two bodies have been received for identification. Antemortem data has been collected from families in Selayar who reported relatives missing. The bodies will be autopsied, and identification will be matched with the collected data. The police are collaborating with forensic experts from Hasanuddin University’s Faculty of Medicine, and a forensic team from the National Police’s Forensic Centre is expected to assist in the coming days. The identification process will depend on the condition of the remains, using fingerprints if possible, or dental records and DNA if the bodies are severely damaged.