Prosecution in Tahiti calls for jail terms over 2007 plane crash

8:27 am on 26 October 2018
Crosses bearing names of victims set in front of Papeete Court house, on the first day of the trial of Air Moorea company, 11-years after the crash of one of its aircrafts in which 20 people were killed.

Photo: AFP or licensors

The prosecution in French Polynesia's trial over the 2007 Air Moorea crash has called for four people to be given jail sentences on charges of involuntary homicide.

Twenty people died when the Twin Otter fell into the sea shortly after taking off from Moorea for Tahiti.

The prosecution wants the court to give jail terms of three years to the head of civil aviation Guy Yeung, the former head of Air Moorea Freddy Chanseau and civil aviation security head Andria Ratzimbasafy.

Two of the three years would be suspended.

The prosecution also wants each of them to be fined $US24,000 and the airline to be fined $US240,000.

The crash investigation showed steering cables tore in several places in the front section of the aircraft, but the defence has challenged the findings.

A month ago French Polynesia's court of appeal ruled that $US3.3 million had to be paid in compensation to the families of the victims.

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