JAKARTA, BALINEWS – The investigation into a maritime accident that killed a fisherman and a port authority official in the waters of the Tampo Strait, Muna Regency, Southeast Sulawesi, on October 18, 2025, has come under scrutiny after the victims’ legal representatives questioned the lack of progress in the case.
More than a year after the incident, lawyers representing the family of La Onus, one of the victims, say they have yet to receive clear information about the investigation being handled by the Muna Police.
The accident involved tugboat TB Buana Marine XXI and barge BG Buana Jaya 3321, owned by PT Buana Maritim Sejahtera, which allegedly struck a fishing boat. The collision killed two people: La Rone, a 63-year-old fisherman, and La Onus, a 51-year-old port authority official who was conducting patrol duties aboard the fishing boat at the time.
La Isarmono, SH, CCT, a lawyer from Ahmad Julhidjah & Partners Law Office, accompanied by fellow lawyers Ahmad Julhidjah, SH, and La Nafo, SH, questioned the handling of the investigation and the current status of the vessel, which they said had previously been seized as evidence.
“We are questioning the legal clarity, justice and certainty for our client. It is deeply concerning that while the victims’ families are still seeking justice, there has been no clear update on the investigation. Moreover, the vessel allegedly involved in the collision has reportedly been allowed to operate again,” La Isarmono told reporters in Jakarta on Friday (October 30, 2026).
According to La Isarmono, the victim’s family had previously sought information about the progress of the case. They were informed that the investigation had been taken over by the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Muna Police from the Raha Port Authority and was being handled under a Police Report classified as Model A.
To obtain formal information about the investigation, the family, through their legal representatives, submitted a request for a Notification of Investigation Progress (SP2HP) to the Muna Police on June 18, 2026.
However, as of October 30, 2026, the lawyers said they had received neither a written response nor further clarification from investigators.
“We submitted the SP2HP request on June 18, 2026. Nearly five months have passed, but there has been no response from the Muna Police. We have not even received any clarification,” he said.
The lawyers said the lack of communication had raised concerns about the transparency and continuity of the investigation. They called on investigators to provide a clear explanation of the case's progress, particularly given that the accident claimed two lives.
In addition to questioning the investigation, La Isarmono raised concerns over the status of TB Buana Marine XXI and BG Buana Jaya 3321. According to the lawyers, the vessel had initially been seized by investigators for approximately two months before being released under a loan-for-use arrangement, allowing it to resume operations.
He questioned the legal basis for allowing the vessel to operate again while it remained connected to an ongoing investigation.
“What would happen if something happened to the evidence, such as damage or loss at sea? Would the Muna Police be able to produce it again during court proceedings? This raises serious questions,” he said.
La Isarmono also questioned the legal basis for issuing a Sailing Approval Letter (SPB) that allowed the vessel to resume operations after it had reportedly been seized.
He called on the Muna Police to clarify the vessel's legal status and explain the procedures and legal grounds for allowing it to sail again.
The legal team urged investigators to provide an official explanation regarding the investigation's progress, the status of the vessel as potential evidence, and the legal basis for its release for operational use.
La Isarmono further called for a transparent and professional investigation, stressing that the law should apply equally regardless of whether the parties involved are individuals or corporations.
The lawyers said they hoped investigators would establish the circumstances surrounding the collision and identify those legally responsible, enabling the victims' families to obtain justice and legal certainty.
As of the publication of this report, no official response from the Muna Police or PT Buana Maritim Sejahtera regarding the concerns raised by the victims' legal representatives had been provided.
