Criminal proceedings have begun against an employee of a Vietnamese tour boat company for allegedly assigning an unqualified individual to operate a vessel that later capsized, leaving 15 people dead.
Investigators have accused Phan Vo Kieu Truc Linh, an employee of Minh Huy PQ Travel, of assigning 57-year-old Nguyen Hong Hai to operate the speedboat AG 26751 despite the fact that he lacked the necessary qualifications to do so.
Linh has been barred from leaving her place of residence as part of the proceedings.
AG 26751 capsized just 100 metres from shore after encountering rough waters during a scheduled excursion off Phuo Quoc Island in southern Vietnam's An Giang province on July 11.
At the time, the boat was carrying 32 passengers, all of whom were Indian nationals, in addition to Hai and three other Vietnamese crewmembers.
All four of the boat's crew and only 17 of the 32 passengers survived the capsizing.
Hai was detained by police shortly after the incident due to suspected violations of local maritime regulations. The specific charges faced by the captain have not been disclosed, though authorities said the investigation into his supposed offences is still ongoing.
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