No immunity for ferry owner
2006-03-18 19:54
Cairo - Egyptian authorities have agreed to lift immunity from the owner of the Al Salam 98 ferry, which sank in the Red Sea last month drowning more than 1 000 passangers.
Ferry owner Mamdouh Ismail is a member of the Shura Council, or upper chamber of Egypt's parliament, whose members are usually immune from investigation.
The council's committee for constitutional and legislative affairs agreed to lift Ismail's immunity on Saturday, after a request from the justice minister.
Shortly after the ferry sank, Ismail told Egyptian television his company would give the family of everyone who died 150 000 Egyptian pounds (R161 000), which he said was the maximum provided for in Egyptian law.
Experts examining how the ferry sank will submit their findings to prosecutors in about four months.
The ship's black box, or data recorder, is being studied in Britain and a preliminary report on the disaster is expected in about two months.