Bahrain cruiser owner jailed over 58 deaths

The owner of a dinner cruise boat that capsized off the coast of Bahrain, killing 58 people including, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to 10 years in jail, his lawyer said today.

Abdul Rahman Ghineim said in comments published in the independent daily Al Wasat that he was surprised by the sentence handed down in the lower criminal court.

“I was expecting my client, Abdulla Al-Kobaisi, 42, to be released” Ghineim said, particularly because the boat’s captain, Rajendrakumar Ramjibhai, 38, an Indian national, “was sentenced (only) to three years.”

While Ramjibhai remains in jail, Al-Kobaisi has been released pending an appeal ruling within 45 days.

Most of those on board were from a South African-based company and its partners celebrating construction of Bahrain’s World Trade Centre.

The dead were mostly Indians and Britons. The dhow Al-Dana was carrying 137 people when it capsized in calm seas, after making a sharp turn.

Al-Kobaisi and Ramjibhai were arrested shortly after the incident.