HABLEANY

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Budapest Appeals Court has ordered a retrial of criminal case

The Budapest Appeals Court has ordered a retrial of the first-instance procedure in the criminal case connected to the collision of the 'Hableány' with the river cruise ship 'Viking Sigyn' on May 29, 2019, on the Danube at the Margaret Bridge, killing 28 of the 35 people on board. Seven tourists were rescued from the water after the collision and the rest died. One of the bodies has not been recovered. The first-instance court had sentenced the captain of the 'Viking Sigyn' to 5.5 years in prison. The Appeals Court ordered a retrial, saying the judge in the case was biased. The accused remains under supervision during the trial. A judge participating in the sentencing procedure should have been recused from the trial, as they seemed to be unable to make impartial decisions. That runs afoul of procedural regulations, and so is a reason for retrial- The prosecutor’s office brought charges against the Ukrainian captain in July 2022. The court convicted him of negligence by endangering river traffic and causing a lethal accident. In a civil lawsuit brought in connection with the accident, the Municipal Court awarded 4.8 million Euro in damages to the families of the victims. The damages are to be paid by two shipping companies.

4,6 million Euro compensation for families affected by tragedy in 2019

The municipal court of Budapest has made a landmark decision, mandating a combined compensation of 1.8 billion forints (approximately EUR 4.6 million) to the families affected by the collision of the Viking Sigyn' and the 'Hableany' on the River Danube on May 29, 2019. The ruling benefits 78 family members of the 27 victims. Following the tragedy, legal battles ensued, putting the spotlight on the responsibilities of the Viking River Cruises AG and Panoráma Deck Kft as operator of the 'Hableany'. After years of investigations and court hearings, the Budapest municipal court's decision to award substantial compensation marked a significant milestone for the victims' families, emphasizing the accountability of the operators involved and also setting a precedent for the handling of similar incidents in the future. The court has provided a 15-day window for the involved parties to appeal against the decision, a critical period that could potentially alter the course of the compensation process.

Commemorations for desaster on the Danube

Commemorations began on May 29, 2020, in Hungary for the first anniversary of the accident of the 'Hableany' on the Danube River in which over two dozen South Korean tourists died after their tour boat collided with the river cruise ship 'Viking Sigyn'. At least 25 out of 33 South Korean tourists died when the vessel capsized and sank on the night of May 29, 2019. The boat’s two-man Hungarian crew also died, while a female South Korean tourist is still missing. In a ceremony organized by the operators of the 'Hableany', a wreath was lowered into the water from a boat near the site of the catastrophe, close to the Hungarian parliament in Budapest. Later, an official memorial with the participation of authorities from Hungary and South Koreawas held on the banks of the Danube, by the foot of the Margit Bridge, where the Hableany was hit from behind and practically pushed underwater in a few seconds by the 'Viking Sigyn' the captain of which is on trial for his alleged responsibility in the crash, but court sessions have been postponed until at least September because of the coronavirus pandemic.