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Hokkaido Tour Boat Operator Sentenced to Five Years’ Jail over Fatal 2022 Sinking
The court said Seiichi Katsurada ignored wind and wave warnings and failed to stop the cruise, making the sinking foreseeable, prosecutors said.
- On Wednesday, the Kushiro District Court sentenced Shiretoko Yuransen president Seiichi Katsurada to five years in prison for professional negligence over the 2022 sinking of the Kazu off the Shiretoko Peninsula, which left 26 people dead or missing.
- Presiding Judge Takeo Mizukoshi ruled the disaster was foreseeable, stating Katsurada failed to cancel the cruise despite active advisories for strong winds and high waves. Prosecutors argued he neglected his duty to ensure safe operations.
- The Japan Transport Safety Board identified a malfunctioning hatch cover as the primary cause of the sinking. Defense lawyers argued Katsurada was unaware of the defect and could not have predicted the accident.
- Following the ruling, the defense team immediately filed an appeal, with Katsurada maintaining he was not guilty of professional negligence. The defense argued he could not have foreseen the vessel's technical defects.
- Arrested by the Japan Coast Guard in September 2024, Katsurada faced trial over whether he could have prevented the accident. Proceedings centered on his responsibility for the Kazu's departure and operational status.
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Malay MailReposted by 
AlKhaleej Today
AlKhaleej TodayJapan boat operator jailed five years over deadly sightseeing disaster
TOKYO, June 17 — The head of a Japanese sightseeing boat company was sentenced to five years in jail on Wednesday over the 2022 sinking of a vessel that killed at least 20 people, the local court said.An investigation faulted a deck hatch and improper maintenance aboard the Kazu I, which was carrying 24 tourists and two crew when it sank off the northern island of Hokkaido.Twenty bodies were recovered and six people are still listed listed as mi…
·Selangor, Malaysia
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources11
Leaning Left0Leaning Right4Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution67% Right
Bias Distribution
- 67% of the sources lean Right
67% Right
C 33%
R 67%
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