Sinking of Al Salam 98 Passenger Ferry and Death of about One Thousand Passengers on Board
Of the tragic unforgettable events throughout the history: sinking of Egyptian passengers amounting to about 1000 citizens who were on board of Al Salam 98 Passenger Ferry owned by the businessman Mamdouh Ismail. The Ferry sank in 2006 en route from Duba, Saudi Arabia, to Safaga in southern Egypt. A small fire took place in the ferry, however, the captain refused to return back to Duba port, Saudi Arabia, despite that the ferry was few miles away from the port. Nevertheless, he insisted to complete the journey to Safaga Port, Egypt. The fire continued to spread and got out of control of everyone, the captain did not ask for help or rescue from any rescue teams or quick deployment forces until the ferry sank along with its Egyptian passengers on board. Newspapers and public opinion in Egypt blamed the owner of the ferry for that accident and accused Mamdouh Ismail of deliberate murder as if he was on board or he was the captain of the ferry.
Businessman Mamdouh Ismail encountered great pressure and had nothing to do but to assign the task of defending him before the court to Dr. Mohamed Hamoua, the famous lawyer who can confront the rebellious public opinion with his repeated experiences in standing against the public opinion directed for a specific purpose as long as the truth is known to him and is proved by the case papers. In long hearings before the court, and in the face of the rebellious families of the victims, and an atmosphere of anger, Dr. Mohamed Hamoda could obtain a judgment acquitting the owner of the ferry, the businessman Mamdouh Ismail. After hearing the argument of Dr. Mohammed Hamoda, the court confirmed that the responsibility lies with the captain of the ferry, and its owner cannot be held accountable for the errors of others only to calm the public opinion; because Rightness shall prevail. That case was a very difficult one that required a double effort from Dr. Mohammed Hamoda to prove innocence of the owner of the ferry.