BINTULU: The skipper of an express passenger boat that sank in Sungai Kakus, Ulu Tatau pleaded not guilty and claimed trial to 13 counts of causing the death of 13 passengers when charged in the Sessions Court yesterday.
Ting Meng Siik, 58, who was accompanied by family members, looked calm when the charges were read to him. He was charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder under Section 304 (b) of the Penal Code. The charge against him carries up to 10 years’ jail or a fine, or both.
Judge Marutin Pagan extended the bail of RM30,000 and fixed Jan 17 for hearing the case.
The accused was yesterday represented by defence counsel Cecil NK Lau, while Hairun Najmi was deputy public prosecutor. Those who drowned in the accident were three-year-old Amilia Tissa Peter from Rumah Ringkai Nanga Mejau Tatau; Peter Julau, 28, of Rumah Ringkai Nanga Mejau Tatau; Bermas Nyuweng, 26, Rumah Bail, Jln Semarakan Tatau; Mais Renggau, 75, from Rumah Enkulau Nanga Belungkai Kakus Tatau; Wong Siew Guan, 27, from Sungai Duren Sibu; Wilfred Ukay Salleh from Rumah Sudan Sungai Mamam, Sibu; Undah Engkamat, 22, from Rumah Tik Kiling Long Tepen Pelutan Baram; 10-month-old Jeniffer Daniel Kho; Lily Manggie, 38, from Rumah Pandong Nanga Kakus Tatau; Jau Daeng, 43; four-year-old Alicia Emilda; and Empam Untan, 45, of Rumah Janang, Sungai Emuau Song.
On Oct 18, the passenger express boat which ferried around 30 people left Tatau around 1.30pm and was heading towards Ulu Kakus before the accident an hour later.
The skipper allegedly failed to avoid ramming the steel cable of the tugboat which got entangled with the express boat before it sank.
A timber camp nearby provided a crane for lifting up the boat not long after it capsized with the help of other workers, but only three bodies were found in the boat around 8pm.
A 10-month-old toddler was found floating on the river soon after the boat capsized.
Some 74 persons from Tatau Police Department, Sarawak Rivers Board, Malaysia Maritime Department, Civil Defence Department, District Office and Marine Police were involved in the three-day mission. Seven divers, seven boats and two jet-skis were used in the operation.