The investigating bodies of the West Siberian Transport Investigations Directorate of the Russia’s Investigative Committee have finished investigating a criminal case against former head of passenger traffic service of OAO Omsk River Port Andrey Shmitberger. He is charged with a crime under part 3 of article 238 of the RF Penal Code (violation of safety rules for traffic and operation of internal water transport involving by negligence death of two or more people).
According to investigators on August 17, 2013, about 1 PM, local time, on the moorage of the Omsk riverside station the accused checked readiness of the Polesie-8 crew to voyage and found that the captain had not had medical examination required before any voyage and was drunk. The accused understood that if he took the captain off the voyage, it would be delayed or cancelled and not wanting it to happen Shmitberger failed to discharge his duties in ensuring security of passenger traffic. He grossly breached passenger traffic safety requirements and let the captain to steer Polesie-8.
As a result, about 01:40 PM, on 1,856th km of the Irtysh river the vessel collided with a barge sailing in the opposite direction. The collision was caused by wrong actions of the captain due to his intoxication. The motor vessel was damaged and partly sank; 4 passengers were killed at the scene, two more died the same day at the hospital; 11 people sustained serious injuries; 36 passengers and 3 crewmembers were injured.
The investigators have gathered enough evidence, therefore, the case with the approved indictment has been sent to court to be tried on the merits.
Earlier the captain of motor vessel was found guilty of violation of safety rules for traffic and operation of internal water transport involving by negligence death of two or more people (part 3 of article 238 of the RF Penal Code) and sentenced to 4.5 years to be served in a minimum-security penal colony.
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