A man has been found guilty of manslaughter and illegally attempting to enter the UK after driving an “unseaworthy” vessel that eventually killed at least four migrants in the English Channel.
Guilty Verdict for Channel Boat Pilot
Ibrahima Bah was at the helm of a small boat crossing the channel before it tragically sank and killed four people hoping for a new life in the UK.
Bah’s Un-seaworthy Boat
Bah has been found guilty of manslaughter in a retrial at Canterbury Crown Court after it was deemed his vessel was “completely un-seaworthy.”
The Tragedy Unfolds at Sea
Bah’s conviction comes in the wake of a perilous journey where at least four passengers lost their lives during the Channel crossing.
39 Migrants Survived
It has not been determined how many deaths came as a result of Bah’s actions that day, but 39 people on board the boat turned up at the shore seeking medical assistance.
Bah’s Perilous Exchange
In December 2022, Ibrahima Bah, a Senegalese migrant, volunteered to navigate a dinghy across the Channel, seeking a free passage in exchange.
Bah’s Defense Claims
In his defense, Bah claimed violent smugglers compelled him to undertake the journey alongside at least 43 other migrants.
A Boatman’s Tale Under Scrutiny
Bah maintained that he piloted the boat under duress, coerced by a people-smuggling gang. The jury had to decide whether his actions were forced or if there was a deeper layer of responsibility.
Steering Under Smuggler’s Influence
Prosecutors alleged that Bah received free passage in return for steering the boat, noting the improvised vessel’s “unseaworthy” nature, originally designed for a fraction of the passengers it carried.
Defense Statement Revealed
“Once we got there and I saw that boat had been assembled, and I then saw the number of people who were going to be travelling, that’s when I said: ‘No I’m not doing it.’ Bah stressed in court.
Court Rules Against Claims
Bah insisted that despite his protests, he was beaten and abused until he changed his mind. However, the court did not believe the coercion outweighed the responsibility he had.
Claims of Abuse and Force
“When I said I’m not doing it, I was beaten up and they showed me that if I didn’t pilot the boat they were going to beat me up and kill me,” Bah insisted.
Prosecutor Claims Defendant Should Have “Turned Back”
Special Prosecutor Libby Clark insisted that Bah could’ve done more to prevent the loss of life, arguing that “he could’ve turned back.”
Sentenced on Multiple Counts
Bah was sentenced on multiple counts, including trying to illegally access the UK and gross negligence manslaughter.
No Evidence of Abuse
Clark claimed that there “was no evidence” that Bah was physically assaulted prior to the boat taking off and insisted that he could’ve “refused to get in” the boat.
Other Options to Take
“He could’ve gone out in the boat for a small distance if he was in fear and then gone back because it was too dangerous in his opinion,” Clark claimed to the court.
A Recipe for Disaster
According to the witnesses on board the boat, Bah continued to navigate the vessel “half an hour” into the trip despite people hearing that the boat was punctured.
A Survivor’s Horror Story
A survivor of the dinghy, Ahmadi, claimed that he attempted to swim out to another passenger who had disembarked from the vessel but couldn’t help them because they were already dead.
Ahmadi’s Terror of the Journey
Ahmadi also claimed that after entering the water, he thought he “died after about five minutes” due to the low temperature and darkness surrounding him.
A Groundbreaking Verdict
The verdict was groundbreaking because this is the first time in the UK’s history that a person driving a vessel of migrants has been held responsible for their deaths.
Scaring Off People Smugglers
Despite his claims of being beaten and fearing for his life, Ibrahima Bah’s sentencing will be used as a way to deter people smugglers from organizing the perilous journey across the Channel.
The post Channel Tragedy Leads to Landmark Conviction in Migrant Smuggling Case first appeared on Pulse365 Limited.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Ververidis Vasilis.