ASYLUM-SEEKER Convicted: The Tragic Consequence of a Dangerous English Channel Crossing
— On Monday, Ibrahima Bah, an asylum-seeker from Senegal, was convicted of manslaughter. He was at the helm of an inflatable dinghy that carried more than 40 migrants from France to the U.K. The vessel capsized tragically resulting in four fatalities.
The prosecutors maintained that the dinghy was unfit for such a journey due to severe overcrowding and lack of safety equipment. Despite the glaring risks and its deteriorating condition as it began taking on water, Bah persisted towards U.K. waters.
Bah did not pay for his passage because he piloted the boat himself. The jury found him guilty on four counts of manslaughter and aiding illegal entry into the U.K.
This incident has added more controversy to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s contentious plan to deport migrants to Rwanda amidst ongoing criticism.