Pingtung, Taiwan — December 6, 2025
A Taiwanese court has handed a suspended sentence to a fishing vessel captain after an Indonesian crew member died during a deep-sea fishing trip several years ago. The case involved the death of Subryanto, an Indonesian fisherman, who passed away en route to Taiwan while working aboard a deep-sea fishing vessel.
According to the Pingtung District Court, the vessel’s captain, surnamed Chen, the chief engineer, and eight Indonesian crew members were investigated following Subryanto’s death. Forensic examinations determined that his passing was linked to delayed medical treatment for injuries and evidence of assault prior to his death.
Investigations revealed that Subryanto frequently struggled with drowsiness, which affected his ability to perform duties and increased the workload on fellow crew members. During the voyage, he sustained a knee injury after accidentally falling while handling clothes, which further limited his capacity to work. Reports indicated that Subryanto was subsequently ostracized and physically assaulted by the captain and other crew members. His condition worsened, leading to rhabdomyolysis. Because he could not be taken to shore for timely medical care, he died on the return trip. The forensic report concluded that the cause of death was rhabdomyolysis complicated by renal tubular necrosis and acute renal failure.
Following the investigation, prosecutors charged Captain Chen and some crew members with negligent homicide and assault. In the meantime, Chen and several crew members reached a financial settlement with Subryanto’s family, leading the family to withdraw their lawsuit. The prosecution subsequently did not pursue the assault charges against the remaining crew members, who still retain the right to appeal.
The court sentenced Captain Chen to 1 year and 4 months in prison, suspended for 5 years, citing mitigating circumstances, including the settlement with the family and other considerations surrounding the incident.
The case highlights the risks and harsh working conditions faced by crew members on deep-sea fishing vessels, as well as the importance of timely medical intervention in life-threatening situations.