The Indonesian helmsman who
steered the Costa Concordia cruise ship on the night of its
fatal 2012 shipwreck has been tracked down in the Jakarta
countryside after a lengthy search, the Grosseto prosecutor's
office said on Wednesday.
Interpol located Jacob Rusli Bin, who has been sought to
testify at the trial of former captain Francesco Schettino, the
officer in command of the Costa Concordia cruise liner when it
hit rocks and capsized off the Tuscan island of Giglio in
January 2012, killing 32.
Rusli Bin had not been heard from since being sentenced to
20 months for multiple manslaughter, negligence and shipwreck
following a plea bargain last July.
Schettino, dubbed "captain coward" by the media for
allegedly abandoning ship without overseeing the evacuation, is
currently on trial in Grosseto on charges of multiple
manslaughter and dereliction of duty.
However, he has blamed Rusli Bin for failing to follow his
orders correctly, allegedly causing the ship to crash into rocks
following a risky 'salute' manoeuvre.
It remains to be seen whether Rusli Min will respond to the
summons when the Tuscan court calls him to appear for a
hearing.
Schettino's five co-defendants, including Rusli Bin,
received minor sentences after a plea-bargain last summer.
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