HIBAPRESS
French authorities have revealed the reasons for the detention of a ferry belonging to the Italian shipping company "GNV" in the port of Sète, southern France, after it was heading towards the port of Bejaia, Algeria.
The Public Prosecutor's Office in Paris said, according to the newspaper "leparisien", that the ferry was stopped after the discovery of a spy device on board, capable of remotely controlling the ship's systems. The source added that this posed a serious security threat and led to the delay of the journey of about 650 passengers for 24 hours before the ship departed towards the Algerian port. The French newspaper reported that the decision came to ensure the safety of the ship and passengers and to investigate the circumstances of the planting of the spy device, continuing that two members of the ship's crew, one Latvian and the other Bulgarian, were placed under arrest pending investigation. It clarified that the procedures later resulted in charges being brought against the Latvian sailor and his pre-trial detention, while the Bulgarian sailor was released without any charges against him. The ship's detention ended after the completion of all security procedures, so that it could leave the port, while the authorities continue the investigation to reveal the potential parties involved in planting the spy device on board the ship.
