Sabah boat mishap: Skipper jailed six months, owner given bail
The two accused led out of the Sessions court on Saturday
KOTA KINABALU: The owner and skipper of the catamaran that sank last Saturday have been charged with causing death by negligence at the Sessions Court here.
The skipper, Sharezza Salian, 25, who is the first accused, however, pleaded guilty to the charge while no plea was recorded from the catamaran owner, Leong Vin Jee, 44.
Judge Ainul Shahrin Mohamed sentenced Sharezza to six months in jail.
Leong was asked to return for a re-mention of the case on Monday as he needed a Chinese interpreter.
Sharezza and Leong were accused of knowingly ferrying tourists on the overloaded catamaran at about 9.15am on Jan 28.
They had allegedly allowed the catamaran to leave a jetty at Tanjung Aru Lama, hence endangering the lives of the passengers.
Sharezza had pleaded for a lenient sentence as he was poor and had to look after his parents. He is the third of eight siblings.
Leong was allowed bail of RM5,000 in one local surety and is to report to the Tanjung Aru police station on the 15th day of every month.
He was also not allowed to leave his place of residence and to report to the court if he wishes to leave the district.
The catamaran with 31 people on board – comprising 28 Chinese nationals and three crew members – sank at about 10am after departing the Tanjung Aru jetty an hour earlier.
The search effort began immediately after the company operating the vessel reported the mishap to the authorities 12 hours after the incident.
Twenty of the Chinese tourists survived the 32-hour ordeal at sea, while three died.
The search for five tourists and a crew member is still going on.
Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/02/04/sabah-catamaran-skipper-jailed-six-months/#aeYLSypHyDobXwy6.99
