KM Ladang Pertiwi Drowns, Police Set Captain And Ship Owner As Suspects

Two suspects involved in the sinking of the KM Ladang Pertiwi ship/ Photo: Antara

SULSEL - The Directorate of Special Investigation and Crime of the South Sulawesi Police has named two suspects for the sinking of the KM Ladang Pertiwi in Makassar Strait waters on May 26, 2022.

"The captain named Supriadi and the ship's owner Haji Syaiful are suspects," said the Director of Special Crimes at the South Sulawesi Police, Kombes Pol. Widoni Fedri told reporters, citing Antara, Wednesday, June 1.

So far, four more witnesses have been examined, bringing the provisional total to 15 witnesses. The examination was carried out after listening to the statements of witnesses related to the tragedy of the sinking of the ship.

"Therefore, yesterday we dared to name the two people as suspects," said Kombes Widoni.

According to him, the four additional witnesses who were examined were from several passengers whose statements were taken to match the chronology of the incident and the alleged violation of shipping against the suspect.

The alleged violation, said Widoni, is Law Number 17 of 2008 concerning Shipping. It is stated that the ship must have permission and approval from the harbormaster to sail as stated in Article 232, as well as Article 302 which regulates the ship's airworthiness before sailing.

"Supriadi is subject to Article 323 of the Shipping Law Number 17 of 2008, while Haji Syaiful, the owner of the ship, is subject to Article 310. This is the result of an investigation that was held yesterday," he said.

Asked how the local portmaster in this case, he said, had not led to that (the suspect) because at this time investigators were still focusing on the alleged negligence of the captain and the ship's owner.

"If the harbormaster is released first (not yet investigated). We focus on the negligence of the ship owner and the captain," he said.

Previously, four people were picked up by KN SAR Kamajaya on Pamantauang Island and immediately taken by officers to the South Sulawesi Regional Police Office to be asked for information on the ship accident.

In addition, the South Sulawesi Basarnas has updated the data on the number of victims based on information from the local village head, from the previous 42 people, now it has increased to 50 people. The number of victims declared safe is 31 people and 19 people are still being searched.