Indonesia’s national police spokesman has confirmed the arrest of four suspects involved in last week’s fatal asylum seeker boat sinking, which claimed the lives of at least 15 passengers including a Sri Lankan child.
The boat sank in rough seas off the coast of Java, with more than 200 people on board, killing at least 15 people.
Brigadier General Ronny Sompy says four Indonesian men have been detained, ABC reported.
It is understood they played a part in organising the boat and helping the asylum seekers board.
The captain of the boat, who is said to be a Sri Lankan national, is still at large.
The boat sank off Cidaun on the south-west Java coast after leaving a fishing village earlier in the day.
The vessel only got a few kilometres out to sea before hitting heavy easterly winds.
Asylum seekers from Iran, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Iraq were on board.
