Six years after a cruise ship, Louis Hellenic Cruises Sea Diamond, hit rocks off the popular tourist island of Santorini and sank, presumably with the death of two French tourists, a Greek court has convicted nine officers and shipping company officials of negligence and gave only suspended sentences ranging from six to 12 years but no jail time for anyone.
The Sea Diamond was carrying 1,600 people when the accident happened in April of 2007. The ship sank two hours later, taking with it Jean Christophe Allain, 45, and his daughter, Maud, 16. Their bodies were never found and they were presumed drowned.
The court imposed the strictest sentence, 12 years and two months, on the ship’s captain for causing an accident, negligence that led to manslaughter, and marine pollution but he walked away a free man.
Lawyer Stelios Papandreopoulos, who represented Santorini local authorities, said the accident could have led to hundreds of deaths but the court showed leniency in the sentencing without explanation.
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