Owner of sunken Egyptian ferry gets 7 years prison

[Robbien]

Source: AP

CAIRO (AP) — The wealthy owner of a ferry that sank three years ago in the Red Sea, killing more than 1,000 people, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and negligence Wednesday and sentenced to seven years in prison.

Hundreds of victims' family members packing the courtroom in the Red Sea port city of Hurghada responded to the verdict with applause and shouts of "long live justice," but others protested at what they saw as an overly light sentence for ferry owner Mamdouh Ismail.

The ruling overturned an acquittal last July that sparked outraged from many in Egypt who believed the wealthy businessman and former lawmaker was being protected by his political connections.

"The evidence showed grave negligence," said the verdict, a copy of which was provided to The Associated Press. "Instead of providing a speedy rescue to the victims from drowning and injury, the defendants spent hours and hours ... trying to find ways to escape their duties."

In the course of the botched rescue attempt, some victims were left stranded in the water for up to 36 hours.

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