JOHOR BARU: Police have arrested a 33-year-old boat operator over an investigation into the collision involving two boats that left two people dead and four others injured in Mersing waters.
Johor police chief Comm Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad said the man, a local operating one of the boats involved, was arrested at about noon on Tuesday (Sept 1).
"An initial urine test on the suspect was negative for drugs.
"A check found he has a criminal record involving a narcotics offence," he said in a statement here on Wednesday (Sept 2).
Comm Ab Rahaman said the suspect was brought before the Kota Tinggi Magistrate's Court and remanded until Saturday (Sept 5).
The case is being investigated under Section 304A of the Penal Code for causing death by negligence, which carries a maximum two-year jail term, a fine or both upon conviction.
Police are also investigating the case under Section 280 of the Penal Code for rash navigation of a vessel, which carries a maximum six-month jail term, a fine of up to RM2,000, or both upon conviction.
Comm Ab Rahaman said the investigation was being conducted concurrently with an inquest into the deaths.
On Monday (Aug 31) night, two boats collided about 800m from the Sungai Mersing jetty resulting in the death of a 38-year-old boat operator and a 32-year-old local male passenger at the scene.
The two boats involved were the Sea Queen, which was returning from Pulau Besar and Rawa Birds, which had just departed from the jetty for Pulau Rawa.
The Sea Queen was carrying six people while three people were aboard Rawa Birds when the collision occurred at the river mouth.
