Pleasure boat owner held over Bahrain tragedy

THE owner of a dinner boat that capsized off Bahrain's coast, killing 58 people, was detained yesterday on allegations he ordered the vessel to sail even though it was unsteady and had no licence to take to sea.

Abdullah al-Kobaisi, the owner of the Al-Dana boat, was ordered held for seven days for questioning and could face charges of negligent homicide and misuse of licence, the prosecutor said in a statement.

The Al-Dana - a traditional dhow vessel refitted as a pleasure boat - overturned last Thursday night as it made a sharp turn with around 130 people on board, most from a South African-based company and its partners celebrating construction of Bahrain's World Trade Centre.