MOSCOW (Sputnik) — In November, Lee was sentenced to 36 years in prison for criminal negligence, but was acquitted of a homicide charge.
South Korean captain who last year left his ship before hundreds of passengers gets life in prison in appeal ruling http://t.co/uJuF9OhBUG
— Jeyup S. Kwaak 곽제엽 (@kwaakreports) April 28, 2015
Gwangju High Court annulled the verdict Monday, sentencing the former captain to life in jail, according to the Korea Times. Fourteen other crew members were given prison terms of up to 12 years.
#Sewol ferry captain sentenced to life in prison after court convicts him on homicide charges http://t.co/wfm0FXZQf6 pic.twitter.com/M6vVNEdCvh
— TODAY (@TODAYonline) April 28, 2015
The South Korean MV Sewol ferry capsized on its way from the northwestern city of Incheon to the southern island of Jeju on April 16.
"Risk and worry await S. Korea work to lift doomed ferry" #Sewol via @AP @CBSNews http://t.co/85FEN5rRcP pic.twitter.com/yErwF2Dj2m
— Nexus Consulting (@NexusConsulting) April 25, 2015
The ferry was carrying 476 passengers, mostly secondary school pupils on a school trip.
Korean Government Officially Announces Plan to Salvage Sunken #Sewol Ferry http://t.co/52NtIhmxJx pic.twitter.com/dEzMBhJ48R
— soompi (@soompi) April 22, 2015
While passengers were instructed not to move, the captain and several members of the crew left the ship.
Prosecutors initially sought for Lee to be sentenced to death, and three crew members to be jailed for life.
