A Indonesian court has sentenced the captain and a crew member of a wooden vessel that sank in Komodo National Park last December, killing a Spanish youth football coach and his three children.
Lukman (56), the captain of the KM Putri Sakinah, was sentenced to three years and six months in prison on Monday, May 25, 2026. His crew member, Muhamad Alif Latifa N Djudje (22), who served as the chief engine officer, received two years and six months.
The panel of judges at the Labuan Bajo District Court found both men guilty of “negligence causing the death of others.”
The sentences were lighter than the four years and six months demanded by prosecutors in earlier hearings.
What Happened That Night
The KM Putri Sakinah, a traditional pinisi schooner, sank on the night of December 26, 2025, in the waters near Padar Island, inside Komodo National Park.
On board was Martin Carreras Fernando, a coach for Valencia CF’s women’s team, along with his wife and four children. The family was on holiday in Labuan Bajo, the gateway to the famous dragon-inhabited islands.
Fernando and three of his children died. His wife and youngest child survived.
According to court testimony, Alif was steering the vessel when the accident occurred. Lukman, the captain, had handed over control to the younger crew member so he could eat dinner in the galley.
That decision became the centerpiece of the negligence case.
The Legal Process
The prosecution argued that both men failed in their duty to ensure the safety of passengers and the vessel. The charges fell under Article 474 paragraph (3) of Indonesia’s new Criminal Code (KUHP).
The panel of judges was led by chief judge Putu Dima Indra, with judges Made Wirangga Kusuma and Intan Hendrawati. The defendants were present in court, alongside prosecutor Gede Romy Askara and defense lawyer Yohanes Baptista Kou.
Neither defendant has yet announced whether they will appeal.
Why Labuan Bajo Matters
Labuan Bajo has undergone rapid tourism development in recent years, promoted by the government as a “super priority” destination alongside places like Lake Toba and Borobudur.
Thousands of international tourists pass through the town each year to board wooden boats bound for Komodo National Park. The fleet ranges from budget backpacker specials to luxury liveaboards. Safety standards vary widely.
The sinking of the KM Putri Sakinah — and the death of a European coach traveling with his children — sent shockwaves through the industry. It raised uncomfortable questions about crew training, captain responsibility, and the enforcement of maritime safety rules in one of Indonesia’s most visited natural attractions.
The prison sentences handed down on Monday answer one question: who is legally responsible.
But they leave another unanswered: how many other boats are still sailing with the same risks?
The Victims
Martin Carreras Fernando was not a casual tourist. He was a professional football coach employed by Valencia CF, one of Spain’s most prominent clubs. His death, alongside three of his children, drew international media attention to Labuan Bajo in ways that tourism promotions never could.
Valencia CF released a statement at the time expressing grief. The Spanish media covered the sinking extensively.
For the family’s surviving members — Fernando’s wife and youngest child — the sentences handed down in a courtroom thousands of miles from home may bring some measure of closure.
But no verdict can return a husband and three children to a dinner table in Spain.
What Comes Next
The captain received a longer sentence than his junior crew member — 3.5 years versus 2.5 years. The judges appeared to place greater responsibility on Lukman, who was in command of the vessel before handing the helm to a younger, presumably less experienced crew member.
Neither sentence matched the prosecution’s demand. But both men will serve prison time.
For travelers booking boat trips in Labuan Bajo, the case is a reminder that Indonesia’s marine tourism industry operates under a legal framework that holds captains and crews accountable — at least when deaths occur.
Whether the same scrutiny applies to the thousands of boats that complete their journeys without incident is a different question.
One that, so far, no court has answered.
