an Algerian immigrant arrested last October Alicante when the alleged captain of a boat was intercepted half a mile away. Santa Pola At the hearing with 11 people on Tuesday, he denied the claim that he was the pilot of the risky boat and assured that there were four more people in the same boat. Despite his claim of innocence, the Prosecutor’s Office continued to request an initial five-year prison sentence for the employer who allegedly committed crimes against the rights of foreign citizens. lawyer José Soler Martín, The defendant’s lawyer requested his acquittal and questioned whether his client could be convicted with this statement. protected witnessfrom another immigrant on the boat who may have been acting in his personal interests as he was actually one of the boat’s bosses.
The boat was located by the Civil Guard on 12 October. 11 people, who paid between 1,300 and 1,700 euros, were rescued from the boat drifting half a mile off the coast of Santa Pola and taken to the port of Alicante. Sea rescue. The prosecutor’s office stated that the defendant risked the lives of those on the boat.
Accused identified by one of the immigrants They explained that they had set out from Tipasa in Algeria at that time and that they were very afraid that they almost collided with a merchant ship on the way to Alicante, and that they prevented this accident by throwing a flare. Although the protected witness was identified, did not appear at the hearing In the case heard in the Second Department of the Alicante Court, the defendant claimed his innocence because his location could not be determined and said, “I was not the boss and “I’ve never driven a boat because I live far from the sea.”
The defendant’s defense presented some photographs and some documents at the oral hearing. videos uploaded to a social network by other persons traveling on the boat and where the defendant appears as follows: one more passenger of the boat. The defendant stated the following: paid 1,500 euros He said there were four other immigrants responsible for operating the boat and adding fuel for the journey.
life vest
On the other hand, he also stated that he was wearing a life jacket because doesn’t know how to swimHowever, a civilian security officer who participated in the rescue effort stated that none of the people on the boat were carrying him.
Likewise, when asked by his lawyer, he told the court that during the journey he came face to face with a person who was supposed to be a protected witness, because he reprimanded him by saying that he had eaten too much food and drank too much water and that there were still hours to go. .
A UCRIF police official stated at the hearing that the protected witness unambiguously identified the detainee as the boss and that he felt “deceived and defrauded.” On the other hand, he stated that those on the boats were generally given instructions by the mafias, and if they were caught, they informed the police that they were running the boat together.