Indonesia arrests captain of capsized Java Sea ferry as suspect
Indonesian police have arrested the captain of the Virgo Transport 8 and named him a criminal suspect over the September capsizing in the Java Sea that killed at least 78 people.
Indonesian police have arrested the captain of the ferry that capsized in the Java Sea last month and named him a criminal suspect, state news agency Antara reported on Wednesday.
Senior national police official Kukuh Prabowo said the captain of the Virgo Transport 8 was suspected of violating Indonesia’s shipping law by knowingly sailing an unseaworthy vessel. The offence carries up to 10 years in prison when it causes deaths and property damage, Kukuh said.
The vessel was carrying 243 people when it capsized in bad weather on September 13 during a voyage from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan. Authorities said 108 people survived.
The death toll stands at 78, with 57 people still missing, according to Indonesia’s search and rescue agency late on Wednesday. Divers are still circling the ship, battling fast sea currents and the vessel’s unstable structure as they search for those missing.
The Baharkam Polri water police, which identified the captain as Arief Yunianto, said the investigation had been transferred from the South Kalimantan Regional Police. Police are also examining whether other parties could be held responsible for the disaster.
Sources
- Reuters, “Indonesia arrests captain of capsized ferry, state news agency reports”, 1 October 2026 — https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/indonesia-arrests-captain-capsized-ferry-state-news-agency-reports-2026-10-01/
- Wilayah.com.my, “Captain of KM Virgo Transport 8 Detained as Suspect After Deadly Java Sea Sinking” — https://wilayah.com.my/captain-of-km-virgo-transport-8-detained-as-suspect-after-deadly-java-sea-sinking/
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