The skipper of the ill-fated Malaysian catamaran, which carried 28 tourists from China and capsized in waters off Sabah last week, was sentenced to six months in jail on Saturday for steering an overloaded and unsafe vessel.
Sharezza Sslian bin Salian, the 25-year old skipper, along with another crewmember, were the first to be rescued after the sinking accident on Feb. 28, which caused at least three deaths.
Six persons, including five Chinese citizens and one Malaysian crewmember, are still missing.
The court believed that Sharezza, by putting 28 tourists onboard, knowingly exceeded the number of passengers, which should be no more than 12, an accusation which Sharezza pleaded guilty.
While the owner of the boat, a 43-year-old man named Leong Vin Jee, was released on bail and will be on trial next week since he does not know Malay.
