Sentencing Kristo Laptalo to 14 years of prison only for being the captain of the ship is a shameful and despicable act.

After a year of optimistic predictions, and after all witnesses were heard, the trial of Croatian captain Kirsto Laptalo finally came to an end. In spite of optimistic prognoses. Laptalo was sentenced to 14 years in prison and 200,000 euro fine.

Although we assumed that the judge realised that the Croatian captain was innocent after witnesses confirmed it, it turned out he had not.

Witnesses said that Laptalo and the members of the crew had nothing to do with the drugs found in the ships freight. However, after a year trial, captain Laptalo was given only a few minutes to claim his innocence. The judge interrupted him and the witnesses as they spoke.

Prosecution had no evidence court corrupted

The president of the Sailors Union of Croatia, Vladimir Svalina, was shocked with the verdict, which he considers ungrounded.

- We are shocked. We know that the prosecution had no evidence. I refuse the sentence with disgust. I want to believe that we will manage to push forth the truth with an appeal said Svalina for Javno, adding that his colleagues in Greece were shocked and that he is expecting their call.

There are no evidence, facts or bases, said the president of the Union once again.

- They should have directed everything towards politicians, and not take three sailors as scapegoats. The court is either blind or corrupted. I am absolutely disappointed with the interpretation of the facts said Svalina to Javno.

Trial delayed several times

Laptalo was arrested in mid July last years as 51 kilograms of cocaine was found in the freight of his ship.

The trial, after being delayed a few times, started on Wednesday, and continued on Thursday morning. Everyone waited for the verdict with optimism as the prosecution had no legitimate evidence to indict Laptalo.

The mayor of Dubrovnik was among the defences witnesses, and she gave her testimony on Wednesday.