KOTA KINABALU: The boat owner in the sunken tourist vessel tragedy here, which occurred on Jan 28, yesterday pleaded not guilty to causing death by negligence.
Leong Vin Jee, 44, entered his plea before Magistrate's Court judge Jessica Ombou Kakayun at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital here about 3.30pm.
His counsel Edward Paul said the case will be up for mention on Feb 28.
Leong had, on Saturday, been charged with boatman Sharezza Salian with causing death by negligence, acting with knowledge that the boat had exceeded its 12-passenger capacity by filling it with 28 tourists from China, at Kampung Tanjung Aru Lama here on Jan 28.
Leong did not enter a plea to the charge on Saturday. The Sessions Court had fixed RM5,000 bail with one surety, and ordered Leong to report to the Tanjung Arub police station every 15th of the month.
Sharezza, however, was sentenced to a maximum of six months imprisonment, from the date of his arrest on Jan 30.
On Jan 28, a catamaran carrying 28 Chinese tourists with three crew members went missing en route to to Pulau Mengalum. The boat was later found to have capsized.
A rescue effort was mounted and the following day, two crewmembers, including the boatman, were rescued near Pulau Tiga.
Another 23 Chinese tourists were then found in Semarang waters, close to Brunei borders.
Three had already died. Five are still listed as missing.
Meanwhile, Edward said the court yesterday also recorded statements from two Chinese tourists who survived the tragedy.
Four of the survivors have already left the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and departed for China.
The authorities are still in the midst of ascertaining the identity of a dead body retrieved off waters near Pulau Mengalum on Saturday.