olice in East Nusa Tenggara have named two people as suspects after a boat accident near the popular tourist destination of Labuan Bajo killed three Spanish tourists and left another missing.
Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Henry Novika Chandra said the suspects are the boat’s captain, identified only as L, and a crew member, identified as M, whose alleged negligence is believed to have caused the fatal accident.
“We named L and M as suspects after examining evidence, questioning witnesses and consulting experts. Our investigation found negligence in the vessel’s operation that led to the accident,” Henry said on Friday, as quoted by Kompas.com.
He said both suspects will be charged under Article 359 of the Criminal Code, which covers negligence resulting in death and carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
On Dec. 26, a boat carrying 11 people, including six Spanish tourists, capsized in rough weather in the Padar Island Strait in East Nusa Tenggara, near the popular resort town of Labuan Bajo and close to Komodo National Park.
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Among those on board were Valencia B women’s football team coach Fernando Martín Carreras, his wife Andrea Ortuño, and their four children, Mateo Martín García, Enrique Javier Martínez Ortuño, Mar Martínez Ortuño and María Lía Martín Ortuño. The boat was also carrying three crew members, the captain and a tour guide.