*Crminalization by seaman, while handling goons.*

The captain and crew of the 'Vessel' pleaded guilty to attempted murder after throwing two stowaways into the Indian Ocean, off the South African coastline to avoid catching coronavirus from them. Captain watched as his crew built a makeshift raft roping together sealed plastic drums and plywood, then stopped his ship to dump the petrified pair overboard. Two stoways (thieves) were given just a life jacket and two bottles of water each and told which way to paddle with their hands to reach the nearest land. With no food to eat and at the mercy of the wind and sea currents, they were cast adrift on the high seas fearing being swamped by the waves or their raft falling apart at any moment. Three days and two nights later the Tanzanian stowaways were washed up exhausted onto a tourist beach at dusk on the KwaZulu-Natal coast about 50 miles north of Durban. They had drifted through one of the most shark-infested areas of the North Coast, near the Tugela River mouth frequented by Great Whites, Hammerheads, Tiger and Bull Sharks. hey had been buffeted by strong winds but kind sea currents had carried their raft to the safety of Zinkwazi Beach, although they had to swim the last stretch over a rocky reef. Shocked locals saw the pair wading through the surf; and paramedics said they were suffering from hypothermia, thirst and hunger… having been given no food and little water to survive.

 When the South African Maritime Safety Agency received news of the stowaways being abandoned to their fate in the Indian Ocean they contacted the bulk carrier by radio. The castaways had remembered the name of the ship and that the crew were “Chinese looking”.

 The ship was impounded when it docked at Richards Bay where a police launch took officers on board who arrested the ship’s captain. The Chinese skipper and the six crew members all admitted attempted murder at Durban Magistrates Court on April 17. The Master of the ship was fined £4,350 and each of the crewmen £2,175 in a plea bargain agreement which was ratified by the magistrate Garth Davis. Captain Rongli was fined a further £2,175 for misconduct

 and £435 for not reporting the stowaways. He was told he would be sent to prison for four years if he did not pay up. Prosecutor said the seven men pleaded guilty in terms of *“dolus eventualis”* in that they knew there was a possibility the

 stowaways might die or perish at sea. The court heard the bulk carrier arrived at Durban harbour from Singapore and while at anchor the two Tanzanian’s climbed the anchor chain and stowed away. The ship sailed on March 26 and the following day when 25 miles

 out to sea to the two stowaways “popped up” on the main deck. The magistrate heard that the stowaways refused to give their nationality but were given food and water and isolated in a room while the crew worked out.