SEOUL: The captain and three crew members of the ferry that sank off South Korea last month were indicted yesterday on charges of manslaughter through gross negligence. Captain Lee Joon-Seok, two navigators and a chief engineer could be handed the death sentence if convicted, although the penalty is very unlikely to be carried out. Even after being instructed by maritime safety authorities to help passengers evacuate the Sewol ferry, they failed to take action and almost an hour later got on the first rescue boat, officials said. The four are accused of leaving the ship as it was sinking while telling passengers, mostly high school students on an excursion, to stay back.
Thai panel calls for poll delay
BANGKOK: Thailand’s Election Commission yesterday called for the postponement of parliamentary polls due on July 20 because of political unrest. The appeal follows an attack on an anti-government rally in Bangkok that left three dead. Hours later, opposition demonstrators stormed a meeting between government and vote officials, forcing caretaker Prime Minister Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan to flee.
Singapore to test visitors for MERS
SINGAPORE: Singapore said yesterday it will begin checking travellers from the Middle East for fever, tightening its guard against the MERS virus which has killed 157 people in Saudi Arabia. “We intend to commence temperature screening at air checkpoints for passengers from affected countries in the Middle East from May 18,” the health ministry said.
Agencies
