Arrest warrant out for owner of the sunken White Whale

The UAQ Criminal Court issues an arrest warrant for the owner of the White Whale ship that sunk off the emirate's coast almost a year ago.

UMM AL QUWAIN // The Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for the owner of the ship White Whale that sunk off the emirate's coast almost a year ago.

The arrest warrant was issued on Sunday after the ship owner failed to appear in court where he faces five charges surrounding the sinking, according to Al Ittihad, The National's Arabic language sister paper.

The owner, identified as AFA, has missed all previous court hearings in the case, though the ship's captain, FAA, was present in court on Sunday.

UAQ public prosecutors have filed five charges against the ship owner and his captain.

The charges include risking lives, failing to prevent and reduce pollution following the sinking, entering the territorial waters of the state without the proper documentation, carrying diesel into the country in an ill-prepared vessel, and carrying diesel without the proper documentation.

The ship sunk in October last year. Nine crew members including their captain used a life boat to reach the shore.