Following public outcry and a halted tourism sector, East Nusa Tenggara Police take the first legal steps in the investigation into the sinking of the KM Putri Sakinah.
LABUAN BAJO, Indonesia — In a significant development following the deadly sinking of the passenger vessel KM Putri Sakinah, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Regional Police have formally named two suspects. The captain and a crew member now face criminal charges of negligence resulting in death, which carry a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment.
The announcement, made during a case review on Thursday, January 8, 2026, marks the first concrete legal action since the ship capsized in the strait off Padar Island within Komodo National Park on December 26, 2025. The incident claimed the lives of Spanish women’s football coach Martin Carreras Fernando, two of his children, and left one son still missing.
Legal Proceedings Begin
According to a written statement from NTT Police Spokesperson Senior Commissioner Henry Novika Chandra, the suspects are the ship’s captain, identified by the initial L, and a crew member responsible for the engine room, identified as M. Their designation as suspects followed a preliminary investigation that included witness testimonies, expert analysis, and other evidence.
“The investigators assessed that there was an element of negligence in the operation of the vessel which resulted in a maritime accident with fatalities,” stated Kombes Pol Henry Novika Chandra.
The two men are charged under multiple articles of the Indonesian Criminal Code (KUHP) related to negligence causing death.
A Tragedy with Far-Reaching Impact
The sinking of the KM Putri Sakinah has sent shockwaves through the community of Labuan Bajo, the primary gateway to Komodo National Park. Beyond the profound human loss—three bodies recovered, one child still missing—the incident triggered a complete suspension of maritime tourism operations, strangling the local economy and sparking intense public protests demanding accountability.
For over a week, demonstrators have gathered outside the local port authority (KSOP) offices, alleging systemic corruption and mismanagement, and calling for the dismissal of port officials. The police’s move to charge the vessel’s operational crew is a direct, if initial, response to the public and political pressure for justice.
The Path Ahead
Police investigators from the West Manggarai Precinct will now proceed with building the formal case file, intensifying coordination with the public prosecutor’s office. Authorities have vowed a transparent process.
“We ensure the legal process runs professionally, transparently, and accountably. The handling of this case is a serious concern for the NTT Regional Police,” Henry emphasized.
The conclusion of the search and rescue operation for the missing boy, now entering its final scheduled extension, leaves the community awaiting both closure for the grieving family and a thorough reckoning for the safety failures that led to the disaster. The legal case against the captain and crew member represents the opening chapter in that process, with further scrutiny likely on the vessel’s owner and the regulatory oversight of the port authority itself.
