US-based lawyer says MAS knew what could happen if it continued flying over the hostile region of Ukraine at that time.
PETALING JAYA: A lawyer acting on behalf of Malaysian and Australian families over shooting down of Malaysia Airlines (MH17) wants to see the airlines charged for criminal negligence, reported Australia’s Daily Telegraph today.
According to the report, United States-based Jerry Skinner of LHD Lawyers, said the airlines knew what was likely to happen if it continued to take the dangerous route over conflict-ridden Ukraine when flying from Amsterdam in Netherlands to Kuala Lumpur.
In the July 17, 2014 incident, MH17, which was carrying 283 passengers and 15 crew members, was shot down by Russian-made missiles, believed to have been used by pro-Russian rebels in Ukraine’s Donetsk region.
“In the US it’s called criminally negligent homicide,” said Skinner who is representing five bereaved Australian families in lawsuits against Russia and Malaysia Airlines.
Skinner said all Malaysia Airlines needed to do in the days leading to the incident was “pick up a newspaper”.
“There was a city just outside of Donetsk subject to artillery bombardment and in the course of two days, 300 artillery shells were dropped on that city,” he said.
“With that level of violence going on in that city, why wasn’t somebody pursuing it further at the airline?”
According to the report, Malaysia Airlines did not respond to Skinner’s assertions. The report added that the lawyer was seeking a meeting with Prime Minister Najib Razak.
He said he believes Najib “holds the key” to resolving some or all of the claims against Malaysia Airlines.
Skinner’s lawsuit against Russia and its president Vladimir Putin seeks AU$10 million compensation for each MH17 victim and is still to be heard. The suit was filed in the European Court of Human Rights.
Australia wants resolution to MH17, MH370 compensation issue
The views expressed in the contents are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of FMT.
lagi info di : Gosip Artis Terkini