The Burgas Court of Appeals upheld the decision of the District Court regarding the measures for detention of the three arrested after the parasailing incident, in which an 8-year-old child died in the sea, falling from a height of 50 m, Nova TV reports. The head of the water base Petko Stefanov and the sailor Kamen Tenev remain in custody permanently, and the captain of the boat Hristo Raev is released on bail of 5,000 leva. In the Courthouse, the defense of the three insisted on lighter measures, with each shifting the blame to the other two. The hearing lasted almost 2 hours. The captain of the boat, Hristo Raev, spoke about the incident to journalists for the first time.
„This is such a big shock. I just saw the child fall. We tried to save the mother so that she wouldn't jump after him,” said Hristo Raev. Asked who had tied the child's seat belts, he explained that it was the sailor's job. „I don't have the time to see them. I'm doing 5-6 other things,” said Raev.
In the courtroom, the lawyers of the two detainees, Petko Stefanov and Kamen Tenev, denied that they were responsible.
„According to the aforementioned legal acts, he is not responsible. They oblige the person in charge of the group and the captain, but not him”, said Blagoy Poterov, lawyer for sailor Kamen Tenev.
“Is Petko Stefanov the manager of the company, may I ask? He is not the manager. By virtue of which Petko Stefanov must bear all responsibility and who said that this should be so?”, asked Petar Dimitrov, lawyer for the person in charge Petko Stefanov.
However, the state prosecution pointed to witness testimony that it was the person appointed to the position of “Cashier” who was responsible for the water base.
”It is not necessary for him to be appointed with some special contract. It is enough that he performed this activity. He gathered them, he said: “You will do this, you will do this”. And ultimately, Stefanov is the person responsible”, said prosecutor Kremena Stefanova.
The results of the expert examination of the torn harnesses, which the boat crew claims were fit, were also presented in the courtroom.
„I have been working in this company for 7-8 years. So far, we have not had any problems with the equipment. When the captain says that a new rope is needed, it is bought. When the captain tells us that a new parachute is needed, no matter how much it costs, the next day the parachute is on the boat. Maybe we haven't worked for about 2-3 weeks this summer because Petko and I have assessed that it is dangerous for the customers”, said Raev. According to him, the belts are changed regularly.
„This saddle, on which the child is mounted, is extremely compromised. It is Turkish-made. There is no label. In principle, such a procedure for suitability is given for 5 years, but it cannot be commented on at the moment. Maybe it is a matter of subsequent examinations,” said prosecutor Kremena Stefanova.
The lawyers of all three denied that their clients were guilty of the tragic incident and insisted that the owner of the company be held criminally liable.