Nine Egyptians have been charged by Greek authorities with “illegal human smuggling” in connection with the tragic shipwreck of a migrant ship off the coast of Greece. The disaster claimed the lives of at least 82 people, as reported by a judicial source on Tuesday. The accused individuals have been placed in pre-trial detention.
The arrests took place on Thursday in Kalamata, the port on the Peloponnese peninsula where 104 survivors were taken. The nine men are suspected of engaging in the “illegal smuggling” of people and are also facing charges of forming a “criminal organization” and “negligent killing.” If found guilty, they could face life imprisonment.
On Tuesday, the detainees appeared before an investigating judge in Kalamata for over ten hours. According to the judicial source, they denied the charges brought against them.
The sinking of the migrant ship is considered one of the worst tragedies in the Mediterranean. It occurred on the night of June 13-14, approximately 47 nautical miles (87 km) from the coast of the Peloponnese peninsula in international waters, according to the Greek Coast Guard.
Search operations have been ongoing for the past seven days in the area, with a naval frigate, a patrol boat, and four other boats involved. However, authorities have expressed little hope of finding any more survivors.
Following the disaster, 78 bodies were recovered from the sea the day after the incident. On Monday, three additional bodies were found in the area, and another body was discovered on Tuesday, bringing the death toll to at least 82.
The investigation into the shipwreck and the charges against the nine Egyptians highlight the ongoing issue of illegal human smuggling and the dangers faced by migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean in search of a better life.
What charges are the nine Egyptians facing for their alleged involvement in the tragic shipwreck off the coast of Greece?
According to a judicial source, nine Egyptians have been charged by Greek authorities for their involvement in the tragic shipwreck of a migrant ship off the coast of Greece. This incident resulted in the loss of at least 82 lives. The accused individuals have been placed in pre-trial detention.
The arrests occurred in Kalamata, a port on the Peloponnese peninsula where 104 survivors were taken. These men are suspected of engaging in the illegal smuggling of people and are facing charges of forming a criminal organization and negligent killing. If convicted, they could face life imprisonment.
On Tuesday, the detainees appeared before an investigating judge in Kalamata and spent over ten hours denying the charges brought against them.
The sinking of the migrant ship is considered one of the worst tragedies in the Mediterranean. It took place on the night of June 13-14, approximately 47 nautical miles from the coast of the Peloponnese peninsula, in international waters.
Search operations in the area have been ongoing for the past seven days, involving a naval frigate, a patrol boat, and four other boats. However, rescuers have expressed little hope of finding any more survivors.
So far, a total of 78 bodies were recovered from the sea a day after the incident. On Monday, three additional bodies were found, and another body was discovered on Tuesday, bringing the death toll to at least 82.
This tragic shipwreck and the charges against the nine Egyptians highlight the ongoing issue of illegal human smuggling and the risks faced by migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean in search of a better life.
This article highlights the severity of illegal human smuggling and its dire consequences. It is crucial to hold individuals accountable to deter future tragedies like the Greek migrant shipwreck.