Drugged boat driver jailed for three years after fatal crash
TDT | Manama
Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com
A man who crashed his boat into another vessel while under the influence of drugs has had his prison sentence increased to three years after the High Criminal Court accepted the prosecution’s appeal.
He had initially been handed a six-month jail term following a fatal sea collision.
The incident took place during a fishing trip with two foreign nationals who have since been convicted and deported.
The defendant, who owned the boat, failed to equip it with essential safety gear and deliberately switched off its navigation lights and tracking system to avoid detection by the Coast Guard while fishing illegally.
On the return journey, he was said to be piloting the boat while intoxicated, travelling at excessive speed and ignoring international maritime rules designed to prevent collisions. His boat struck another boat carrying two men who later died from their injuries.
Prosecutors argued that the original sentence was too light given the recklessness involved, the presence of drugs, and the loss of life.
The court agreed and issued the harsher punishment during its hearing yesterday.
Related Posts