Prosecutors arrest coast guard official in connection with ferry disaster



Prosecutors in Gwangju have been investigating the Coast Guard’s actions on the morning of the disaster… and on Tuesday, arrested the captain of a patrol boat that was tasked with saving lives from the ferry.
This is the first such arrest of a Coast Guard official in the ongoing investigation.
Park Ji-won reports.
Prosecutors arrested the captain of a coast guard patrol boat that was tasked with saving lives from the then-sinking Sewol-ho ferry in mid-April.
The Gwangju District Prosecutors’ Office,… which has been probing the Coast Guard on the Sewol-ho ferry disaster,… arrested the 53-year old official, identified only by his family name Kim,… on Tuesday.
Kim was the chief of the Mokpo Coast Guard’s patrol boat at the time of the disaster,… and is alleged to have ripped up official work records and fabricated new records that same day.
The prosecution suspects he did so to cover up errors committed by the Coast Guard in its initial response to the ferry disaster.
If he’s found to be responsible for the failed rescue operation, during which only victims who were in the water were saved,… prosecutors say they would consider charging Kim with negligent homicide.
It’s the first time authorities have taken into custody a coast guard official who was engaged in rescue operations at the disaster scene, and comes amid mounting criticism of the maritime agency.
Student survivors of the accident, providing testimony in court on Tuesday against the sunken ferry’s captain and crew members, said… there appeared to be more fishermen involved in the rescue operation than Coast Guard officials.
They told the panel of judges they want those responsible within the Coast Guard to be punished severely.
Sewol-ho captain Lee Joon-seok and 14 of his crew are currently on trial,… accused of charges ranging from negligence to homicide.
Park Ji-won, Arirang News.


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