Ipoh: Five Indonesian men were charged at the Sessions Court here today with smuggling 18 Indonesian migrants in a boat capsize off Pulau Pangkor in May that claimed 16 lives.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the accused include Nanda, 42, who is alleged to be the skipper; M Kahfi Kamil, 21, the skipper's assistant; Suyanto, 25, the boat engine operator; as well as M Yunus, 43, and Riadi Slamat, 43, both cooks. The charges were read out in Indonesian before Judge Azizah Ahmad, and all five nodded in understanding, although no plea was recorded as the case falls under the jurisdiction of the High Court.

They are accused of jointly smuggling 18 Indonesian migrants, aged between 21 and 48 years, in waters near Pulau Pangkor at approximately 6 am on May 11. The charges fall under Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007, which carries a maximum prison term of 20 years and may also include fines or both upon conviction.

Deputy public prosecutor Nor Syamila Jalaluddin did not offer bail, citing the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA), which prohibits bail. All the accused were unrepresented. The prosecutor also informed the court that the 18 migrants smuggled into the country had been charged at the Manjung Magistrates' Court on May 22, with the next mention scheduled for June 15 pending the availability of an interpreter.

The court has set June 24 for the next case mention. On May 11, the boat carrying 39 Indonesian migrants capsized approximately 8.2 nautical miles from Pulau Pangkor, resulting in 16 fatalities. The five accused and 18 passengers survived the incident.