Owner of sunken Egyptian ferry acquitted

[Ban Hammer 13,342]

CAIRO, Egypt - The owner of a ferry that sank two years ago in the Red Sea was acquitted Sunday of manslaughter charges in the deaths of more than 1,000 people who perished in the botched rescue.

Sunday's ruling cleared a total of five people in the case, outraging families of those killed in the accident. One person — the captain of another ferry who failed to respond to the foundering vessel's distress call — was convicted and sentenced to six months in jail.

The ferry owner, a former member of parliament, and his son were cleared of manslaughter and faulty injury charges by a court in the Red Sea port city of Hurghada, the country's official news agency, MENA, reported. The men, who fled the country shortly before being ordered to stand trial, were tried in absentia. They are believed to be hiding in Europe.

The Al-Salam Boccaccio 98 sank in February 2006 after fire broke out in its vehicle bay while traveling from Saudi Arabia to Egypt. Most of the more than 1,000 victims were Egyptian workers returning home.

A parliamentary investigation found "a wicked collaboration" between the company and the Egyptian Commission of Maritime Safety, which allowed the ferry to operate while failing to meet minimum safety requirements. Both the company and the government were also criticized for failing to respond quickly to the sinking, which struck a deep chord in Egypt where official negligence is often blamed for large accidents.

But the court said any mistakes that may have been made during the accident were "merely accidental mistakes that alone do not add up to criminal convictions," according to MENA.

In its verdict, as reported by MENA, the court also said some of the evidence presented was not strong enough and other evidence was faulty. This included forensic reports that didn't indicate the time of death and medical reports that did not prove the survivors' injures were due to a delay in rescue efforts.

"The evidence presented by the prosecutor-general's office was not quite enough to convict the accused and there were doubts about the evidence's authenticity," the verdict said.

Sunday's acquittal infuriated victim's relatives, who at the time of the accident openly criticized the government of President Hosni Mubarak.

Local and pan-Arab TV stations showed footage of victims' relatives wailing and beating their chests in grief upon hearing Sunday's verdict.

"Everything is in God's hands now!" one man shouted, waving his hands in the air. Women fell to the floor screaming.

"We are stunned. There can't be a ruling like this," said Asaad Heikal, a lawyer for several victims' families. "We will not give up and will appeal the ruling," he told reporters outside the courthouse.

The ferry sinking lent credibility to longtime charges that Mubarak's government has abetted corruption by wealthy businessmen close to powerful members of his regime.

The vessel's owner, Mamdouh Ismail, was a member of parliament's upper house at the time, and his son Amr was a top executive in the ferry company. Opposition members have claimed that top Egyptian officials helped them escape.

Egypt's government sought to deflect the criticism. It opened a parliamentary inquiry, lifted Ismail's parliamentary immunity and ordered the ferry owner to pay $57 million in compensation to victims' families.

Egypt's prosecutor-general ordered an immediate appeal of Sunday's verdict, citing missing testimony from some survivors and inaccurate death certificates and medical reports, the country's official news agency reported.

Besides the father and son, four other people were charged in the sinking, including the captain of another Egyptian ferry who was sentenced to six months in jail for failing to respond to a distress call from Ismail's vessel.

Court officials described Sunday's proceedings on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to media.

The other three defendants, who worked for the ferry company and port authority, were all acquitted, they said.

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[Nasturtium 500]

I remember that, I may have been in Jordan for that. I remember they said the boat was seriously over-loaded as well.

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

I read this in a Los Angeles Times report. I don't remember when this happen but it's sad indeed.

[tenderheartusa79 14]

I read this in a Los Angeles Times report. I don't remember when this happen but it's sad indeed.

I think it happened on 14 feb 2006 .and in the same day the president .the first lady,the prime minister,.....and all of the Egyptian government were watching a soccer game at the stadium not even caring to go to that accident place to see whats going on or even trying to find out how they will rescue those people and what they are going to do !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

the sad thing is the judge said The vessel's owner Mamdouh Ismail and his son are unguilty.

all of the victims relatives and all of the Egyptians sure they are guilty.

but as the matter of fact it doesn't matter if the judge say they are guilty or not why???

cause Mamdouh Ismail and his son are in London and they will never come back to Egypt. so even the judge say they are guilty the Egyptian police can't bring them back to Egypt to send them to the prison.

GOD says ''if you kill someone with no rights you will be in hell'' and Mamdouh Ismail and his son killed 1034 innocent person without any rights .so i hope that Mamdouh Ismail and his son will go to the place that he deserve

GOD bless all of those victims souls Amen

Edited July 29, 2008 by tenderheart197900