Simshar survivor responds to responsibility accusations

Marsaxlokk fisherman and sole survivor of the Simshar tragedy Simon Bugeja and his wife Sharon have replied to a judicial letter filed last week by one of the victims families, and claimed they have “absolutely nothing” to do with the accusations levelled at them over responsibility for the accident that led to the deaths of three people, including Bugeja’s father and 11 year-old son Theo.

The Bugeja’s replied to Fadumo Abdulle Qabobe, mother of Somali fisherman Abdulrahman Abdala Gedi, 21, who died in June 2008 when the Simshar allegedly went down off Lampedusa following an explosion on board.

According to Fadumo Abdulle Qabobe, her son had died as a result of Simon Bugeja's “negligence, imprudence and lack of training in maritime safety.”

In their reply, Simon and Sharon Bugeja categorically denied  any responsibility for the death of the Somali fisherman. Both insisted that they were also victims of the of the same tragedy.