The defense in the sinking of Al-Salam 98 Ferry called for upholding a previous court ruling exonerating its client. Dr. Mohammed Mustafa Hamouda, a member in the defense team, submitted 70 portfolios proving the innocence of his clients, as he put it.
Hamouda accused the ferry's captain and crew of being behind its sinking because they did not do their duties. They did not follow the instructions to control the fire. In addition, they did not return to the Saudi port of Duba nor did they seek help from nearby ships. He denied that fugitive Mamdouh Ismail is responsible for the accident, adding that Al-Salam Company is only a navigational agent for the ferry. Hamouda has also accused Major-General Mahfouz Taha, former head of the Red Sea Ports Authority, of giving false testimony on the sinking of the ferry. The defense said that Amr Mamdouh Ismail was not a member of the emergency team in Al-Salam Company.
The public prosecution ruled out the only person responsible for notifying the rescue bodies, namely Italian Andrea Audini, chief of the emergency team at Al-Salam Company, Hamouda said.