CAIRO, March 12 (UPI) -- The owner of an Egyptian ferry that sank in 2006, killing more than 1,000 people, has been sentenced in absentia to seven years in prison.
An appellate court in Cairo Wednesday sentenced Mamdouh Ismail to prison for involuntary manslaughter after reversing an earlier decision, Adnkronos International reported.
The court also sentenced two other defendants in absentia to terms of three years each, but acquitted two others.
The Italian news agency said Ismail reportedly has fled to Britain while denying any responsibility for the deaths. However, Ismail is reported to have paid $57 million into a compensation fund for the victims -- or $50,000 for each family of the victims.
His Al-Salam 98 ferry sank in Egypt's Red Sea as it was traveling from Saudi Arabia in February 2006.
Relatives of the victims told Arab News they were disappointed by the previous court's decision acquitting all defendants except the captain, who was given a six-month prison term.
Jamal Abu Rayya, who lost his brother, said the rejection of the earlier verdict by the Egyptian attorney general had strengthened people's confidence in judiciary.
Ismail had sought waivers from the victims' families, Arab News said.
"But many people were not ready to waive their claims accepting money and wanted the court to give its verdict on the ship owner and other suspects," Abu Rayya said.
Egyptian ferry owner sent to prison
Reply With Quote
Posting Permissions
