Sabah police commissioner Ramli Din said police recorded the statements of all those involved in the incident on Jan 28, including the 20 tourists from China as well as witnesses.

“The investigation papers are completed and some of the 20 Chinese tourists have returned to their country while others are still in Sabah,” he told reporters after a working visit to the Sabah General Operations Force headquarters in Kinarut, near here, today.

The catamaran, with the 28 Chinese tourists and three crew members, capsized after being battered by strong winds and high waves an hour after leaving the Tanjung Aru jetty here for Pulau Mengalum, 56km northwest of Kota Kinabalu.

To date, 26 victims have been found including four who died. The search-and-rescue operation for the remaining five victims is still ongoing.

Police have arrested the boat owner, the skipper and a crew member who are being investigated for causing death due to negligence.