South Sumatra Police Name One Suspect In Ship Accident Case That Killed 1 Foreigner From China

Based on the results of the case title, the South Sumatra Police have named one suspect in the case of a ship accident that killed a foreign national (WNA) from China on November 13, 2024.

"Yes, we did the case last Thursday, and of the four people examined, one of them was named a suspect because he was proven guilty," said Head of Sidik Sub-Directorate of Gakkum Ditpolairud of the South Sumatra Police, Kompol Karimun Jaya, quoted from Antara, Saturday, November 16.

He explained that what the suspect named was R, a speedboat, who was carrying 23 passengers.

"The results of coordination with the officers of the Land Transportation Management Center for Region VII of South Sumatra Province who were named suspects were the captain of the ship that crashed, namely R," he said.

He added that the reason the speedboat was driven by the suspect was smaller than the jukung he hit and had to reduce speed when passing the corner and avoiding to the right so that waterworthiness would not occur.

As for the rules for if the ship passes, the smaller ship must avoid the right side of the larger ship. And if the ship wants to enter the corner, it must honk the horn and reduce speed.

This provision is based on Article 249 of Law No. 66 of 2024 concerning the third amendment to Law No. 17 of 2008 concerning Shipping, which states that ship accidents as referred to in Article 245 are the responsibility of the captain or attack, unless it can be proven otherwise. Suspect R is subject to Article 359 of the Criminal Code with a penalty of five years in prison.

The accident occurred on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, at around 09.00 WIB, during a speedboat of 400 PK brand May Jaya carrying 22 Passengers and two crews from Palembang to Sei Baung hit the joint prayer jukung which collaborated with the Tiga Berlian jukung which came from Tenggirik Bay to Palembang.