South Korean Ferry Captain Arrested; Divers Find Bodies Inside Sunken Ship

The captain of a South Korean ferry carrying 475 passengers that sank on Wednesday, killing 28 and leaving 270 missing, was arrested early Saturday on suspicion of negligence and abandoning people in need — three of whom were found lifeless in the sunken ship by a diver.

Senior prosecutor Yang Jung-jin Yonhap said 68-year-old Lee Joon-seok and the crew members were detained early Saturday, the Associated Press reported.

The captain was arrested amid reports that an inexperienced crew member may have been at the ship’s control when it overturned, and survivors’ claims that the crew did not act swiftly enough to evacuate its mostly high school-student passengers.

Lee faces five charges including negligence of duty and violation of maritime law, according to the Yonhap news agency.

Prosecutors and police said Friday they had asked a court to issue arrest warrants for the captain and two other crewmembers.

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