boat tragedy

PORT DICKSON: Rescuers have found the bodies of the last five victims of Tuesday’s fishing boat tragedy.

They were the bodies of four women and a girl estimated to be between eight and 10 years old. They were found floating 15 nautical miles from here near Tanjung Sepat in Selangor.

“The bodies were bloated beyond recognition but we believe they were the passengers of the ill-fated boat,” OCPD Supt Baljeet Singh said when met here.

The boat, which left Banting in Selangor early Tuesday morning for Dumai, Indonesia capsized three hours later about 12 nautical miles from here due to bad weather.

It was transporting passengers believed to be illegal immigrants and two crew members.

Eight people, including the tekong and his assistant, survived the tragedy. A total of 14 people have died.

Baljeet said the Indonesian Embassy had been notified of the discovery of the last five bodies.

Police obtained a seven-day remand against the tekong and his assistant on Wednesday. They are being investigated under Section 304(a) of the Penal Code for negligence in the deaths of their passengers.