Teenager to Stand Trial for Endangering Migrants in Channel Crossing
A 19-year-old named Chan Mathok Atak is set to stand trial for allegedly endangering the lives of over 160 migrants while piloting a dinghy across the English Channel. Atak, originally from Sudan, appeared in Margate Magistrates Court today. He denied the charges and claimed he did not pilot the dinghy.
The incident occurred last Thursday when a rigid hulled inflatable boat left France for Dover. Prosecutor Lucie Fish stated that the boat was overcrowded and of poor quality, and it appeared to be deflating when intercepted by Border Force.
Atak has been remanded in custody and will appear at Canterbury Crown Court on August 24. The case is significant as it falls under a new offence aimed at those steering small boats across the Channel.
This incident marks a record for the number of migrants on a single vessel, surpassing the previous record of 128. Home Office data indicates that while the total number of arrivals this year has decreased, the number of migrants per boat has increased.
