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South Korean prosecutor asks for death penalty for Sewol ferry captain South Korean prosecutor asks for death penalty for Sewol ferry captain
(about 3 hours later)
GWANGJU, South Korea — South Korean prosecutors called Monday for the death penalty for a ferry captain facing murder charges for abandoning his capsized ship and leaving hundreds of schoolchildren behind as it sank. GWANGJU, South Korea — South Korean prosecutors called Monday for the death penalty for a ferry captain facing murder charges after abandoning his capsized ship and leaving hundreds of schoolchildren behind as it sank.
Capital punishment is rarely imposed in South Korea — no one has been put to death in almost two decades — but the sentencing recommendation underlines the raw wounds that the April 16 disaster left in this country.Capital punishment is rarely imposed in South Korea — no one has been put to death in almost two decades — but the sentencing recommendation underlines the raw wounds that the April 16 disaster left in this country.
The capsizing of the Sewol, the result of being dangerously overloaded, killed 304 people, the vast majority of them students from a single high school. Ten bodies have not been recovered. The capsizing of the Sewol, the result of the boat being dangerously overloaded, killed 304 people, the vast majority of them students from a single high school. Ten bodies have not been recovered.
Lee Joon-seok, the 68-year-old captain of the Sewol, has been charged with “homicide through willful negligence” for abandoning the ferry as it went down in choppy waters off the southern coast of South Korea en route to the vacation island of Jeju.Lee Joon-seok, the 68-year-old captain of the Sewol, has been charged with “homicide through willful negligence” for abandoning the ferry as it went down in choppy waters off the southern coast of South Korea en route to the vacation island of Jeju.
Prosecutors also asked the judge to hand down life sentences to three crew members facing the same charges if found guilty, the Yonhap News Agency reported. A range of prison terms is being sought for other crew members charged with abandoning their duties. Prosecutors also asked the judge to hand down life sentences to three crew members facing the same charges, if they are found guilty, the Yonhap News Agency reported. Varying prison terms are being sought for other crew members charged with abandoning their duties.
The court is expected to issue its verdict and sentences for the 15 crew members on Nov. 11.The court is expected to issue its verdict and sentences for the 15 crew members on Nov. 11.
“The accused are guilty of willful negligent murder,” the prosecution said in Gwangju district court Monday. “They put saving their lives before helping the passengers to survive, violating their duties.”“The accused are guilty of willful negligent murder,” the prosecution said in Gwangju district court Monday. “They put saving their lives before helping the passengers to survive, violating their duties.”
Appearing calm as he read a prepared statement in court, Lee said he had not intended for the accident to happen. But he said he deserved to die.Appearing calm as he read a prepared statement in court, Lee said he had not intended for the accident to happen. But he said he deserved to die.
Prosecutors said testimonies and evidence showed that the crew members understood the situation clearly. Prosecutors said testimony and evidence showed that the crew members understood the situation clearly.
“The passengers inside the ship could not be saved unless they made their way to the decks,” prosecutors told the court. “Passengers were not notified about the condition of the ship tilting and sinking. The coast guards were arriving in a few minutes, but the crew didn’t make a slightest effort to let the passengers ready for the escape.” “The passengers inside the ship could not be saved unless they made their way to the decks,” prosecutors told the court. “Passengers were not notified about the condition of the ship tilting and sinking. The coast guards were arriving in a few minutes, but the crew didn’t make a slightest effort to get the passengers ready for the escape.”
Even after their escape, no crew member notified the coast guard of the trapped passengers, the prosecutors said. All the passengers could have been saved within six minutes, they said, based on a simulation they had done. Even after their escape, no crew member notified the coast guard about the trapped passengers, the prosecutors said. All the passengers could have been saved within six minutes, they said, based on a simulation they had done.
Bereaved families attending the court proceedings were not satisfied with only one death penalty recommendation, with many saying more of the crew deserved “the maximum possible penalty.”Bereaved families attending the court proceedings were not satisfied with only one death penalty recommendation, with many saying more of the crew deserved “the maximum possible penalty.”
But the defense contended that the ship was a ticking time bomb, doomed to sink because of its load.But the defense contended that the ship was a ticking time bomb, doomed to sink because of its load.
The case has gripped South Korea, partly because of the scale of the tragedy and the youth of its victims, but also because of the bizarre details that emerged about the ferry company’s owner. The case has gripped South Korea, partly because of the scale of the tragedy and the youth of its victims, but also because of the bizarre details that have emerged about the ferry company’s owner.
The 73-year-old billionaire who founded the company, Yoo Byung-un, turned out to be the leader of a religious cult and had enriched himself by squeezing money out of his businesses, including ordering modifications to the Sewol to conceal the fact that it was carrying much more than the allowed weight.The 73-year-old billionaire who founded the company, Yoo Byung-un, turned out to be the leader of a religious cult and had enriched himself by squeezing money out of his businesses, including ordering modifications to the Sewol to conceal the fact that it was carrying much more than the allowed weight.
Yoo went on the run after the sinking, and his body was found in a badly decomposed state in July. Yoo went on the run after the sinking, and his badly decomposed body was found in June.
The Sewol disaster also has divided the nation.The Sewol disaster also has divided the nation.
Scores of representatives of victims’ families have camped out in a plaza in central Seoul, going on hunger strikes and calling for President Park Geun-hye’s administration to establish an independent probe into the ferry sinking. Banners and floral tributes still festoon City Hall. Scores of representatives of victims’ families have camped out in a plaza in central Seoul, going on hunger strikes and calling for President Park Geun-hye’s administration to establish an independent probe into the ferry sinking. Banners and floral tributes still festoon city hall.
But just across the road, another group of protesters has set up tents and is calling on the victims’ families to end their vigil, saying the mourning has gone on long enough. Just across the road, another group of protesters has set up tents and is calling on the victims’ families to end their vigil, saying the mourning has gone on long enough.
Fifield reported from Tokyo.Fifield reported from Tokyo.