In South Korea: Captain Who Left 300 Children To Die Sentenced To 36 Years In Prison

Lee Joon-Seok was found guilty of abandoning his passengers and was today sentenced to 36 years behind bar. The captain of the South Korean Sewol ferry that sank back in April killing over 300 students and other passengers on board has been sentenced to 36 years in prison after a 6-month trial. More than 300 people died after the ferry capsized on the southwestern coast of South Korea in April. Almost 250 of them were suburban high school students on their way to a field trip. Nine people remain missing as government ended search last week after searching for seven months. Lee Joon-seok was widely criticised for leaping to safety while hundreds of his passengers drowned to death after his boat sank and was today, Tuesday, November 11 sentenced after being found guilty of violating 'Seamen's law' and abandonment causing death and injury of the students and other passengers on board. Prosecutors accused him of failing to use available equipment such as life rafts, life vests and also failing to make an announcement warning the passengers to evacuate the ship and use the safety equipment. The Ferry's chief engineer was also found guilty of murder and sentenced to 30 years, while the remaining 13 crew members were given different sentences varying from five to 20 years in prison. The verdict was however met with outrages by families of the victim, who gathered outside the court asking for an appeal and calling for the death penalty for the crew members. Both the prosecution and the defense have seven days to formally ask for an appeal.