JOHOR BAHRU, Sept 2 — A boat operator involved in a crash on Sunday between two passenger boats in Kuala Sungai Mersing, which killed two people, has been remanded for four days.
Johor police chief Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad said the 33-year-old local man was arrested by Mersing district police headquarters (IPD) personnel around noon yesterday to assist in the investigation.
He said the suspect was taken to the Kota Tinggi Magistrate’s Court for a remand application under Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
“The court granted a four-day remand from September 2 to 5 to assist further investigations,” he said in a statement today.
Rahaman said a check revealed the suspect’s criminal record in narcotics offences, but the man’s urine screening was negative.
He said the case is being investigated under Section 304A of the Penal Code for causing death by negligence and Section 280 of the same code for operating a boat rashly.
Section 304A provides for two years’ prison, a fine, or both, while Section 280 provides for six months’ prison, a maximum fine of RM2,000, or both, if convicted.
“The investigation is in line with the investigation into the sudden death (SDR) case,” he said.
He also advised the public not to speculate or spread unverified information about the incident, and to give the authorities time to conduct a thorough investigation.
In the crash, two people died while seven others were injured.
The Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) received an emergency call about the incident at 9.04pm on Sunday before nine rescuers from the Mersing station rushed to Mersing Jetty.
