The Administrative Prosecution ordered the referral of local officials in the Nile Delta province of Kafr al-Sheikh to a speedy trial on Tuesday over the death of 15 people aboard a ferry on the Nile River in early January.
Two ferry licensing officials in the Fawa municipality are facing accusations of negligence that led to the death of passengers aboard an unlicensed, overcrowded ferry on new year’s eve.
Investigators discovered that the license for the ferry had expired in May and that the late owner's sons continued to operate it without renewing the license, also allowing six extra passengers to board, which consituted an overload of passengers.
The boat also violated its prescribed sailing route, which is limited to the waters of Kafr al-Sheikh, snd sailed to neighboring Beheira.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
