Police detain third person over Sabah catamaran sinking

The catamaran carrying Chinese tourists sank at about 10am Saturday after departing the Tanjung Aru jetty an hour earlier.

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah police have detained a third person over the ill-fated catamaran that sank while on its way to Pulau Mengalum.

Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Ramli Din said the third person, who is the owner of the boat and company proprietor, was brought in Monday to help in investigations into the case.

On Sunday, the 26-year-old skipper and a 38-year-old crewman, who were the first to be rescued from waters near Pulau Tiga, were arrested. The duo will be remanded until Feb 2.

“We will be investigating the case from all angles, including whether there were elements of negligence on the part of the boat owner and crew,” he said.

The catamaran carrying Chinese tourists sank at about 10am Saturday after departing the Tanjung Aru jetty an hour earlier.

Twenty tourists survived the 32-hour ordeal at sea, while three of them died.

The search operation for five missing survivors - four tourists and a crew member is continuing.