The head of the company that owns the Ferry Sewol that sank off the coast of South Korea, taking the lives of 269 passengers, is now in custody.
Kim Han-Sik, head of Chonghaejin Marine Co. Ltd, was detained in the southwestern port city of Mokpo, AFP reported Thursday. The company head is accused of contributing to or ignoring the 476-passenger and crew ferry being overloaded with cargo the day it capsized, which investigators believe caused the tragedy.
"Kim faces various charges including manslaughter and violating maritime law," senior prosecutor Yang Jong-Jin said according to AFP.
Four other Chonghaejin officials have also been arrested. Kim was taken to a detention facility in Mokpo, where he made a brief statement in front of reporters.
"I apologize to the victims and the families," Kim said, AFP reported.
Korean officials also plan on revoking Chonghaejin's license, which would put an end to the company's ferry operations.
The South Korean Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said in a statement the company would no longer be able use the route the Sewol was on from the port city of Incheon to the island of Jeju, AFP reported. Licenses for other ferry routes may also be revoked.
"The name of Chonghaejin Marine Co. will never be allowed to darken the ferry industry again," said a ministry spokesman.
Investigators believe the Sewol was loaded with three-times its cargo limit when it tilted on its side and sank on April 16. Over 100 passengers were rescued, but after weeks of searching the ferry's underwater remains the death toll slowly rose to 269. Thirty-five people are still missing, AFP reported.
Most of the passengers, and the victims, were highs school students on a trip to a resort on Jeju.
Other officials connected to the ferry have been investigated for criminal conduct in relation to the ferry. The ferry's captain, Lee Joon-seok, and 14 other crew members have since been arrested.
