Rota shipwreck victim identified
Morocco, Local, 4/19/2005

The body of a man, who perished along with 36 other Moroccan illegal emigrants in October 2003 when their dinghy shipwrecked off Rota coasts (Cadiz, Southern Spain), has finally been identified, and may be repatriated to Morocco this week, official sources said here Monday.

The body of the 20-year old Moroccan was not buried as the judge in charge of the case decided to wait for the results of DNA tests and the probe conducted by medical examiners to localise his family in the North African country.

On 12 October 2004, 12 unidentified illegal emigrants, who died in the same incident, were buried in Los Barrios cemetery with their gravestones bearing the following inscription: "Rota shipwreck 25-10-2003. Rota 05." A Spanish court condemned, in November 2004, Moroccan smuggler, Hamid Echokhch, who planned the smuggling of the 37 illegal emigrants with another smuggler, to 40 years in jail.

Echokhch, 25, was sentenced to 37 years for "homicide due to serious negligence" and to 3 years "for undermining the rights of foreign citizens."

He was also condemned to pay Û90,000 as compensation to families of the victims.

The shipwreck had sparked a controversy in Spain after a probe opened on the death of the illegal emigrants who perished near the Spanish-American naval base of Rota.

Some sources said the base dismissed a call by "Focs Tenerife" ship, warning that the dinghy was facing difficulties.

NGOs have accused Spanish authorities of negligence as they delayed in launching a rescue operation.

Previous Stories:
  7,000 pardoned by the king including 26 foreign prisoners   (4/15/2005)
  Fez to celebrate Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan circumcision   (4/14/2005)
  Rabat to host 'Mawazine-Rythmes du monde' festival   (4/13/2005)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search