Kafr al-Sheikh–Marsa Matrouh general prosecution on Saturday released 13 fishermen from Borg al-Megeizal village, and ordered two others to serve prison sentences. All 15 fishermen had been on board the al-Amira Shabana boat, currently held in Libya.
The boat was used for fishing in Malta in January, according to Ibrahim Ahmed al-Shamy, the boat’s captain. Strong winds forced the boat to enter Libyan waters, and the Libyan authorities arrested the boat's crew. A Benghazi, Libya's second largest city, court ordered the boat be taken custody of and sentenced the 15 fishermen on board to six months in prison.
“We spent more than nine months in a Libyan prison, until a presidential pardon was issued after Aisha Abdel Hady, the Minister of Manpower, visited Libya,” said al-Shamy.
“On Friday, we reached al-Salloum customs. The crew were then referred to the Matrouh prosecution,” he said.
Al-Shamy called for Egypt's Foreign Minister to ask the Libyan authorities to release his boat.
Crew members Hassan Mohamed al-Gharabawi and Zakareyya Eid al-Gharabawi, both released, said they will continue to work as fishermen as it is their only source of livelihood.
Al Masry Al Youm has not obtained information on the additional charges issued by the Marsa Matrouh prosecution to the two fisherman.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
