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Maltese appeals court has overturned conviction of German captain of the 'Lifeline'

A Maltese appeals court has overturned the conviction of a German captain of the 'Lifeline' that rescues migrants in the Mediterranean Sea on Jan 7, 2020, declaring there was no criminal intent when he entered Maltese waters without proper registration. Claus Peter Reisch had been found guilty in May 2019 of not having his ship registration in order and with entering Maltese waters without a permit. The Court of Criminal Appeal ruled that Reisch didn't have the specific intent to break the law. The court overturned the original judgment and revoked the 10,000 Euro fine. The 'Lifeline'had been carrying 234 migrants in June 2018 when it entered Maltese waters. The rescue had caused an international dispute as European countries dithered over what to do with the would-be refugees. Eventually the vessel was allowed to dock in Malta and the migrants were distributed among EU states. The ship was impounded, and Mission Lifeline spokesman Axel Steier said that now that the case is over, the aid group can get it back. Mission Lifeline has acquired a new vessel that is being outfitted in Germany and plans to resume its rescues in spring. The group can no longer use the original ship because no country will offer its flag under acceptable conditions.

Master of Lifeline released

The "Sea-Watch 3" has been detained by the authorities in Valletta. The ship was berthed at the Coal Wharf and may, just like the rescue ship "Lifeline", not leave the port. Captain Pia Klemp told there was no jurisdicial reason to detain the ship which had the full right to fly the Dutch flag and expressed the expectation the ship would be released soon to continue its rescue mission. Only on July 2 the UNHCR reported 63 missing migrants, after about 100 drowned on June 29, among them toddlers and children. Actually no rescue ships were operating in the sea area off Libya. On July 2 a court in Valletta decided that the captain of the "Lifeline", Claus-Peter Reisch, had to be released after paying a safety deposit of 10.000 Euros. But he may not leave the island. The authorities had claimed the "Lifeline" was not registiered as required and did not obey the orders of Italian authorities to have the rescue work carried out by the Libyna Coastguard.

Migrants safe in port

On June 27, the "Lifeline" entered the port of Valletta and disembarked the 234 migrants, among them 17 women and five children, including an unattended two-year-old, after one week on sea. Permission for the ship to dock at Boiler's Wharf in Senglea was given after eight European Union member states agreed to jointly distribute the 234 migrants aboard amongst themselves. Four of the migrants, including three babies, were taken straight to hospital upon arrival. The rest were taken to the reception centre at Marsa. The government in Malta planned to detain the ship for investigations. Reports with photos and video: https://www.nrz.de/politik/rettungsschiff-lifeline-wartet-weiter-id214698767.html https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20180627/local/muscat-to-announce-latest-developments-on-migrant-rescue-ship-crisis.682963