Suspect in 'Gurita' case named

Suspect in 'Gurita' case named

JAKARTA (JP): Police yesterday named six government officials as suspects in last month's tragedy of the sinking of the Gurita ferry in Aceh which left more than 100 dead, Antara reported.

Chief Detective of Aceh Police, Lt. Col. Surya Dharma told reporters that the suspects were the Malahayati/Krueng Raya portmaster, identified by Antara by his initials YUS, the port's administrator KD, and four officials of the state-owned company which operated the ferry, respectively AK, IHN, AS and BMA.

He said none of them were under arrest and there were no reason to fear that they might fled. "They have fully cooperated with the investigation and confessed to their errors."

He did not give the precise charges against them other than saying that they may include negligence, filing false reports, and endangering the lives of others.

Surya added the list of suspects could still grow.

Police have not been able to question the chief of the Aceh Office of the Ministry of Transportation, identified only as S, although he has already been summoned twice, he said. "I will personally pick him up if he continues to ignore our summons."

The Gurita, which is owned by PT ASDP, sank on Jan. 19 as it sailed from Malahayati to Sabang on Weh Island near Banda Aceh. Forty people survived, 54 bodies were found, but the precise number of people who drowned or are missing has not been determined, due to confusion about the number of passengers.

The portmaster has insisted that the ferry was carrying 210 as listed in the manifest. If there were passengers without tickets, the number could not be more than two dozens, he said.

Yet police investigation, which include questioning over 60 people including officials and survivors, established that the number of passengers ranged between 300 and 400. The Aceh administration is still investigating the exact number of people on board.

An earlier report said police investigation found that the ship was leaky when it set sail and had only been plugged by cement. The ship's captain had refused to sail the ferry, but agreed reluctantly after his superiors threatened to sack him from his job. (emb)