Tourist Ship Sinking in Labuan Bajo with Evidence Loan Status

The Tiana Liveaboard Motor Boat (KLM), which sank on Saturday, November 21, in Labuan Bajo waters, was being loaned out by the ship's owner for maintenance, according to the West Manggarai Resort Police. The boat's owner plans to use the sinking as evidence in a related criminal case in 2022. "The ship owner proposes to borrow and use evidence in the sense of maintaining, repairing.

In our administration, it is acceptable to borrow and use evidence, Adjunct Commissioner Ridwan, Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit for the West Manggarai Police, told reporters on Monday (23), in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara. This was stated by Ridwan in response to information regarding the tour ship starting up again, despite the fact that it was treated as evidence in a criminal investigation.

Two tourists lost their lives when the ship sank on June 28th, 2022, in the marine area of Komodo National Park. Ridwan clarified that the ship owner had adhered to the procedure that had been in place for some time and had submitted a request for borrowing and using evidence via a letter of application.

The general administration instructions of the Police regulate this, and the local police permit it as well. He emphasized that while he was unable to determine whether the ship could sail or not, the police followed the proper procedures for obtaining and using evidence in accordance with the law.

Ridwan added that the case of the sinking ship was still being handled by the West Manggarai Police and the District Attorney's Office under the P19 status. So, Ridwan continued, "What happened at this time (the ship was put to use for sailing), was beyond our expectations.

The KLM Tiana Liveaboard was involved in a sea accident for the second time on Saturday, November 1, in the afternoon in Batu Tiga Waters, Labuan Bajo (also read: Bengkulu Floods Extend to Five Regions, Two Reported Missing). 14 tourists total—10 from abroad and four from within the country—were on board the ship.

In the incident, two people suffered injuries. Khouw Cynthia Josephine Kosasih, a tourist from Pekalongan in Central Java, was upset and disappointed because she believed that a travel agency had duped her into believing that the Tiana ship's sinking was their fault.

"I feel ripped off. This is a second ship, which I just learned about.

So, this ship has already capsized. The life jacket is hung outside rather than inside the room because there is no hammer on the ship.

"There is no briefing from the tour guide in advance to explain an emergency," Cynthia told journalists who met her outside Siloam Hospital Labuan Bajo on Saturday evening (21/1) when they arrived for the evening news briefing. Through CV Wisata Alam Mandiri, Cynthia purchased a tour package to Labuan Bajo. The company guaranteed they would board the ship Nadia, which had one master bedroom and one private room.

They were escorted to another ship, the KLM Tiana, at Labuan Bajo Pier, though, after they had arrived. A sudden change of ship happened to several foreign visitors as well.

Cynthia requested that the incident involving the shipwreck that she experienced be thoroughly investigated by the West Manggarai Police and other interested parties. As a result, other travelers won't have a negative impression of Labuan Bajo tourism.

The victim gave the police a report about this incident, and the police questioned four witnesses. This coming Monday afternoon, the ship's owner is expected to arrive in Labuan Bajo.

".

Ridwan clarified that the ship owner had adhered to the procedure that had been in place for some time and had submitted a request for borrowing and using evidence via a letter of application.