Indonesia has arrested the captain of a ferry that capsized in the Java Sea last month, with police naming him a criminal suspect as the death toll from the disaster reached 78.
National police spokesperson Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko said on Thursday that the captain of the Virgo Transport 8 had been arrested and would face criminal charges over his role in the accident.
The ferry was carrying 243 people when it capsized in bad weather on Sept 13 while travelling from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan. Authorities said 108 people survived, while 57 remain missing.
Senior police official Kukuh Prabowo, quoted by state news agency Antara, said the captain was suspected of knowingly sailing an unseaworthy vessel, in violation of Indonesia’s shipping law.
The offence carries a prison sentence of up to 10 years when it results in deaths and property damage.
Police did not provide further details on the alleged violations.
Search and rescue operations are continuing, with divers searching the capsized vessel for those still missing. The operation has been complicated by strong sea currents and the unstable structure of the ship.
Reuters
