Greek ferry crewmen jailed pending trial

Vassilis Yannakis, left, and Tassos Psychoyios wait to testify

ATHENS, Greece (Reuters) -- A Greek public prosecutor has ordered the captain and second officer of a ferry which sank, killing at least 79 people, to be jailed pending trial on charges of manslaughter.

"They have been ordered held on charges of manslaughter with possible malice," said investigating magistrate Ioanna Karabassi.

The Express Samina hit a well-charted islet and sank on September 26 as it approached the Aegean island of Paros.

Karabassi said prosecutor Dimitris Dadinopoulos also formally charged the two with exposing passengers to danger resulting in death, causing a shipwreck and a series of lesser charges in what was Greece's worst sea tragedy in decades.

Captain Vassilis Yannakis has said he was unwell and taking a nap shortly before the crash. His number two, Tassos Psychoyios, told investigators he tried to steer the ship away from the rocks but that bad weather prevented him.

They will be transferred to a prison on the island of Chios, where they can be held up to 18 months without trial, Karabassi said.

Two other seamen, the helmsman and a trainee captain, who were on the bridge at the time, are also being held and may also face manslaughter charges.

A memorial service was held on Paros for the victims

Survivors described chaotic scenes after the ship ran aground and said many had to find lifejackets on their own or jump into stormy waters without them.

Divers found several bodies inside the ship, which sank just two miles from port, and were still searching on Tuesday.

Following the disaster, the Merchant Marine Ministry ordered dozens of ferries and cruise ships not to sail, for failing to meet safety standards, and gave them 20 days to shape up or lose their licences.

A prosecutor on Syros, the administrative capital of the Cyclades cluster of islands, also prepared charges of endangering passengers against anyone at the Minoan Flying Dolphins company, part owned by Minoan Lines, who might be deemed responsible for the sinking.

No one was named in the charges.

Copyright 2000 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Minoan Lines
Greek Ferries

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