Driver who killed 14 in Egypt is jailed for just a year

The driver of a bus that crashed in Egypt in January, killing 14 Hong Kong tourists, has been sentenced to one year's jail and fined 200 Egyptian pounds ($270), court officials say.

The lenient sentence drew disbelief from families of the victims. But it has cleared the way for them to claim compensation from the tour organiser, which had said it could not act until the investigation into the accident was completed. The survivors of the bus crash, which happened on the Safaga Highway between Hurghada and Luxor on January 31, have threatened to sue Jetour Holiday.

Jetour said last night the matter had been handed to its insurers to determine whether the crash was caused by any negligence on the travel agent's part. Voluntary compensation has been ruled out.

According to court documents disclosed to the Sunday Morning Post, driver Salah Mohamed Mohamed el-Sharqaway appeared before the Red Sea Court at Hurghada on May 2.

He was charged with killing and injuring by mistake and with dangerous driving. He pleaded not guilty but was convicted on both counts. He applied for leave to appeal, but this was refused.

Mohamed was jailed one year for the manslaughter charge and sentenced to one year in prison. He was fined 200 Egyptian pounds for dangerous driving.

The revelation of the driver's fate follows months of inquiries by the Post which have been met with silence by officials both in Egypt and Hong Kong. They include repeated calls to the Immigration Department, the Egyptian consulate in Hong Kong and the Tourist Police Department and the Chinese Embassy in Cairo.