The owner ofthe Rabaul Queen –the ferry that sank offthe Morobe Coast killing more than 150 people – has been arrested and charged with 162 counts of manslaughter.
Peter Sharp was calm as he cooperated with police during his arrest just after 3pm this afternoon.
His house and his office were searched for documents and, after a two hour interview, formal charges were laid atthe Kokopo police station.
Sharp has also been charged with one count of sending an unseaworthy ship to sea.
The Rabaul Queen disaster has been described asthe worst maritime disaster in Papua New Guinearsquo;s history.
More than 160 people remain missing sincethe disaster happened more than a year ago.
The investigation took nearly nine months to complete. It is estimated total cost ofthe investigation stands at over a million kina.
Pictured: Last Voyage of MV Rabaul Queen at Bougainville Wharf.
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