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Tunisian Captain Who Caused Deadly Migrant Shipwreck Is Jailed for 18 Years Tunisian Captain Who Caused Deadly Migrant Shipwreck Is Jailed for 18 Years
(35 minutes later)
ROME — A Tunisian captain who was piloting a fishing vessel that collided with another ship and left about 700 migrants dead while traveling between Libya and Italy in the Mediterranean’s deadliest known shipwreck was sentenced on Tuesday to 18 years in prison. ROME — A Tunisian captain who was piloting a fishing vessel that collided with another ship, resulting in the deaths of about 700 migrants traveling between Libya and Italy, was sentenced on Tuesday to 18 years in prison.
The captain, identified as Ali Malek Mohammed, 28, was convicted by a court in Catania, Sicily, of multiple manslaughter, of human trafficking and of causing the disaster in April 2015. The captain, identified as Ali Malek Mohammed, 28, was convicted by a court in Catania, Sicily, of multiple manslaughter, human trafficking and causing the disaster in April 2015, the Mediterranean’s deadliest known shipwreck
The prosecutors said that he had steered the fishing boat into a Portuguese freighter, the King Jacob, off the Italian island of Lampedusa. The King Jacob was sent to the area to help by the Italian authorities after they received an emergency call, prosecutors said. The prosecutors said that he had steered the fishing boat into a Portuguese freighter, the King Jacob, off the Italian island of Lampedusa. The King Jacob was sent to the area to help after the Italian authorities received an emergency call, prosecutors said.
The victims were part of a huge influx of migrants fleeing war and economic desperation who have risked their lives in an effort to reach Europe. More than 4,740 migrants died trying to cross the Mediterranean in 2016, according to an estimate by the International Organization for Migration, far surpassing the 2015 total of 3,660 deaths. The victims were part of a huge influx of migrants fleeing war and economic desperation who have risked their lives in an effort to reach Europe. More than 4,740 refugees died trying to cross the Mediterranean in 2016, according to an estimate by the International Organization for Migration, far surpassing the 2015 total of 3,660 deaths.
The central Mediterranean route to Italy has become increasingly deadly this year, compared with a simpler, shorter route across the sea from Turkey to Greece, with around 4,240 migrants dying in 2016 so far, compared with about 2,860 over the same period last year. The central Mediterranean route to Italy has become increasingly deadly this year, compared with a simpler, shorter route across the sea to Greece from Turkey, with around 4,240 migrants dying in 2016 so far, compared with about 2,860 over the same period last year.
The migrant vessel capsized after a violent collision with the Portuguese ship, and only 28 survivors were found after a vast search and rescue operation. The migrant vessel capsized after a violent collision with the Portuguese ship, and only 28 survivors were found after a vast search-and-rescue operation.
The judges also convicted a Syrian man, Bikhit Mahmud, 26, who was serving as first mate, to five years in prison for engaging in illegal immigration.The judges also convicted a Syrian man, Bikhit Mahmud, 26, who was serving as first mate, to five years in prison for engaging in illegal immigration.
Both defendants denied they had been involved in human trafficking, and Mr. Mohammed’s lawyer, Massimo Ferrante, said that he would appeal the verdict. “My client says he was a mere passenger,” Mr. Ferrante said in a telephone interview. Both defendants denied being involved in human trafficking, and Mr. Mohammed’s lawyer, Massimo Ferrante, said that he would appeal the verdict. “My client says he was a mere passenger,” Mr. Ferrante said in a telephone interview.
That account was disputed by survivors, who attributed the collision and subsequent tragedy to Mr. Mohammed’s ineptitude at steering the vessel. That account was disputed by survivors, who attributed the collision and the subsequent tragedy to Mr. Mohammed’s ineptitude at steering the vessel.
The bodies of 169 migrants from Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Gambia, Mali and Senegal were retrieved in the immediate aftermath of the collision. Hundreds more were trapped in the boat and only recovered after the vessel was taken to shore in June by the Italian Navy after a challenging, monthslong operation. The bodies of 169 migrants from Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Gambia, Mali and Senegal were retrieved shortly after the collision. Hundreds more were trapped in the boat and were recovered only after the vessel was taken to shore in June by the Italian Navy, after a challenging, monthslong operation.
Italy’s prime minister at the time, Matteo Renzi, strongly pushed for the recovery mission despite the high cost and the complex identification process as a way to highlight the dramatic human aspect of migration in the central Mediterranean. Italy’s prime minister at the time, Matteo Renzi, strongly pushed for the recovery mission — despite the high cost and the complex identification process — as a way to highlight the human aspect of migration in the central Mediterranean.
Officials removed the remains from the vessel over the course of the summer, examining them to create a database of the victims. Teams of forensic experts worked around the clock in the Sicilian port of Augusta to collect body markings and DNA samples to confirm the identities of the victims and to inform their families in Africa. Officials removed remains from the vessel over the course of the summer, examining them to create a database with information about the victims. Teams of forensic experts worked around the clock in the Sicilian port of Augusta to collect body markings and DNA samples to confirm the identities of the victims and to inform their families in Africa.
The grim task of retrieving the corpses fell to firefighters from Sicily, who said they had found the decomposing bodies scattered all around the sunken ship, which was under about 1,200 feet of water for over 14 months. Firefighters were called in because they had been trained in working in chemically and biologically dangerous situations. The grim task of retrieving the corpses fell to firefighters in Sicily, who said they had found the decomposing bodies scattered around the sunken ship, which was under about 1,200 feet of water for over 14 months. Firefighters were called in because they had been trained to work in chemically and biologically dangerous situations.
A spokesman for the service, Luca Cari, said that 400 volunteer firefighters, working in 20-minute shifts and protected by sealed chemical suits and oxygen masks, had removed hundreds of skeletons, other bodily remains and corpses from every corner of the fishing boat. A spokesman for the service, Luca Cari, said that 400 volunteer firefighters, working in 20-minute shifts and protected by sealed chemical suits and oxygen masks, had removed hundreds of corpses, skeletons and other bodily remains from every corner of the fishing boat.
Hundreds of bodies were found in the well of the hull, in the engine room, and even on the bridge. “It was evident from many corpses’ positions that they had struggled to exit when the vessel capsized,” Mr. Cari said. “But the hatchway was closed.” Hundreds of bodies were found in the well of the hull, in the engine room, and even on the bridge.
“It was evident from many corpses’ positions that they had struggled to exit when the vessel capsized,” Mr. Cari said. “But the hatchway was closed.”
“It was touching even for professionals like us,” he added. “These men and women traveled the Mediterranean standing five per square meter, it’s inhumane.”“It was touching even for professionals like us,” he added. “These men and women traveled the Mediterranean standing five per square meter, it’s inhumane.”