TOKYO, (Oct. 1, 2003) -- A scuba diving instructor faces negligence charges over the death of a diver under his control in rough seas last April, law enforcers said Wednesday. Tokyo police sent an investigation report to prosecutors Wednesday, accusing the 29-year-old instructor, whose name was not immediately released, of professional negligence resulting in death. The Metropolitan Police Department took the action after deeming that the accident occurred because the instructor went ahead with the dive despite the rough seas and failed to confirm the safety of two leisure divers under his supervision. Prosecutors are expected to closely investigate the case before deciding whether to indict him. The victim, a 26-year-old nurse from Tokyo's Nerima-ku, and the survivor, a 47-year-old man, began diving at a port on Hachijo Island, south of Tokyo, at around 2:15 p.m. on April 19 under the guidance of the instructor, police said. | | During the dive, however, the instructor lost sight of his two students at roughly 3 p.m. The man managed to return to shore, but the nurse went missing. About an hour later, she was found dead on a tetrapod after being washed ashore by the current. At the time, a high sea warning was out and the winds were strong. Moreover, the visibility in the sea was extremely low and the currents were strong. SOURCE - Mainichi Shimbun |
