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In Britain, Truckdriver Charged with Manslaughter Deaths of Dozens of Illegal Chinese Immigrants

Aired June 22, 2000 - 6:07 p.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

BERNARD SHAW, CNN ANCHOR: In Britain, a Dutch truckdriver has been charged with manslaughter for the deaths of dozens of illegal Chinese immigrants who suffocated inside his truck's sealed container.

CNN's Rym Brahimi reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RYM BRAHIMI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Fifty-eight counts of manslaughter. That's just the first of the charges against the Dutch driver of the truck where 58 bodies were found early Monday at the port of Dover. Perry Wacker of Rotterdam has also been charged with smuggling two people into the United Kingdom and attempting to smuggle the 54 men and four women who died.

The British authorities discovered the 60 immigrants inside a lorry coming from the Belgian port of Zeebrugge. The 58 victims, who remain unidentified, suffocated to death. Two survivors were treated in hospital and are under protection while being questioned by police. Authorities believe them to be from the Southern Chinese province of Fujian, an area famous for its snake heads, smugglers who charge immigrants high fees for unguaranteed passage to the West.

British police are also questioning two other people from the London area in connection with the deaths. Dutch authorities are holding the father of the driver and the owner of the truck.

(on camera): British and Chinese authorities are said to be cooperating at a high level to trace what they believe is an immigrant smuggling ring responsible for that human shipment. Meanwhile, the Dutch truck driver charged with being responsible for the deaths is due to appear in court on Friday in a Kent magistrate.

Rym Brahimi, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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