According to the indictment, on the morning of February 26, 2022, defendant Le Sen (54 years old, residing in Cua Dai ward, Hoi An, Quang Nam) drove the Phuong Dong 5 ship carrying 39 people (36 passengers, 3 crew members) to Cu Lao Cham island for sightseeing.
By the afternoon of the same day, the ship was inspected by the Cu Lao Cham Inland Waterway Management Board to ensure safety conditions and was granted permission to depart back to Cua Dai.
On the way back, the ship capsized and sank, causing an accident in Cua Dai sea area, killing 17 passengers.
The forensic autopsy results of the 17 victims concluded that the cause of death was irreversible acute respiratory and circulatory failure, a consequence of drowning.
According to authorities, at the time of the accident, it was cloudy, no rain, and the sea conditions were normal.
The cause of the accident was that Captain Le Sen did not reduce the speed to the safe level as prescribed, which is below 9 km/h, when reaching a section within the curved channel with a radius of 800m, the actual speed was from 20km/h to 25km/h. As a result, the ship capsized and sank, killing 17 passengers on board.
The People's Procuracy of Quang Nam province has prosecuted defendant Sen for violating regulations on controlling water vehicles as prescribed in Point a, Clause 3, Article 272 of the Penal Code. Mr. Sen faces a prison sentence of 7 to 15 years, according to the above regulations.
In addition, the Procuracy requested the Trial Council to declare that the defendant Le Sen and Phuong Dong Tourism Company Limited (vehicle owner) jointly compensate, according to the request of the representatives of the deceased and those involved in the case.
The trial is scheduled to last one day, September 22.
