Floating platforms on the Danube during the preparation for raising of sunken Hableány tour boat – Photo: wikipedia

Prosecutor appeals for stricter criminal supervision of Viking Sigyn captain

The public prosecutors of Budapest's 6th and 7th districts have submitted an appeal against a court ruling that stipulates the level of criminal supervision over the Ukrainian boat captain charged in connection with the deadly boat collision on the River Danube last May that resulted in the deaths of 27 people.

The prosecutors object to the fact that the suspect is not required to personally report to the authorites while under criminal supervision and must dispense this obligation by phone, the Budapest prosecutor’s office said on Friday.

Deputy spokeman of the Budapest prosecutor’s office Ferenc Rab confirmed press reports that the suspect is in residing in Ukraine. Criminal supervision does not entail residing in Hungary continually, but the suspect is obliged to report to the police on specific dates, he added.

Ibolya said the prosecutor’s office proposed that the court extend the criminal supervision which expires on Jan. 30 for further four months. Whereas the court rejected the defence’s motion to terminate criminal supervision, it did not impose an obligation to report in person.

On May 29, the Viking Sigyn cruise ship collided with the Hableany sightseeing boat which had 33 South Korean tourists on board and a crew of two Hungarians. Seven tourists were rescued from the water after the collision. One of the bodies has not been recovered.

Jurij C., the cruise ship’s Ukrainian captain, has been charged with fatal negligence and failing to provide assistance to persons in danger. Those acts are punishable under Hungarian law by prison sentences of 2-11 years.

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