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South Korea ferry company chief detained | South Korea ferry company chief detained |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Prosecutors in South Korea have detained the head of a company that owned the ferry that sank last month with the loss of more than 300 lives. | Prosecutors in South Korea have detained the head of a company that owned the ferry that sank last month with the loss of more than 300 lives. |
Chief executive of Chonghaejin Marine Kim Han-sik, 72, was taken into custody from his home on Thursday morning. | |
Prosecutors said he faced possible charges including manslaughter and breaking maritime law. | Prosecutors said he faced possible charges including manslaughter and breaking maritime law. |
Investigators believe the ferry was overloaded with cargo, which could have contributed to the boat capsizing. | Investigators believe the ferry was overloaded with cargo, which could have contributed to the boat capsizing. |
"I apologise to the victims and the families," Mr Kim told media after his arrest, but did not respond to questions. | |
National shock | |
The ferry, carrying 476 people, was sailing from Incheon to Jeju Island when it sank on 16 April. | |
Only 172 people were rescued, with many others trapped inside the ship as it went down. | |
Most of the victims were students from a high school near Seoul who were on a trip to Jeju Island. | |
Investigators believe that on the day it sank, the ferry was carrying more than three times the amount of cargo it was authorised to transport. | Investigators believe that on the day it sank, the ferry was carrying more than three times the amount of cargo it was authorised to transport. |
Prosecutors have already arrested the captain, believed to be one of those who was rescued first, and 14 crew members for failing to help passengers off the ship. | |
Lee Joon-seok, 69, was not at the helm when the ship listed. Instead, the vessel was being steered by a third mate. | |
The tragedy has caused widespread shock in South Korea, as well as criticism of the government response and a backlash over possible regulatory failure. | The tragedy has caused widespread shock in South Korea, as well as criticism of the government response and a backlash over possible regulatory failure. |
South Korean Prime Minister Chung Hong-won has resigned amid criticism of the government's handling of the incident. | |
On Wednesday, the coastguard revised down the number of survivors, saying that only 172 people were rescued instead of the previously announced figure of 174. | |
South Korean President Park Geun-hye has already apologised over the incident, acknowledging that the first response was insufficient. |
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