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Prosecutors seek capital punishment for captain of capsized South Korean ferry

South Korean prosecutors also seek life in prison for three other crew members involved

Lee Joon-seok EPA/KIM HEE-CHUL

Lee Joon-seok

© EPA/KIM HEE-CHUL

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Captain and crew members of sunken ferry Sewol charged with murder

SEOUL, October 27. /TASS/. Prosecutors are seeking a death penalty for the captain of the capsized Sewol ferry Lee Joon-seok, Yonhap news agency reported.

South Korean prosecutors also seek life in prison for three other crew members involved.

South Korean Sewol passenger ferry with 6,825 tonnage was travelling from the port of Incheon to the island of Jeju. The ship sank on April 16 to the south-west off of the Korean peninsula. A total of 476 people were onboard. Most of the passengers, 325, were schoolchildren from the city of Ansan. The ferry captain, along with most of the crew, was among 172 survivors of the tragedy. 269 people died and another 35 were reported missing.

According to preliminary investigation results, about 90% of the victims had life vests on them. “235 out of 269 victims, whose bodies were found during the first stage of the search and rescue operation, had life vests on them,” Coast guard chief Kim Suk-kyoon said. Yonhap news agency said that more passengers could have survived if the ship’s crew and rescuers reacted timely.

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Accidents South Korea

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