Those arrested for this case and for whom the Panamanian Organised Crime Prosecutor Roberto Moreno asked a conviction, are the vessel’s captain Ri Yong, the first official Hong Yong Hyon and the Chong Chon Gang’s political secretary Kim Yong Gol. The other 32 seafarers were previously released without charge.
Their Panama counsel, Julio Berrios, requested an abbreviated process. Assisted by a translator, the three defendants pleaded not guilty before Judge Carlos Villarreal.
In his plea, Prosecutor Roberto Moreno said that the three defendants acted with intent to conceal the containers with weapons of war, under the shipment of 250,000 pounds of raw sugar. He said that the Koreans modified the ship's hold to transport containers.
Moreno added that the three North Koreans on trial were the only ones who knew about the shipment of arms and did not report it to the shipping company who made the arrangements for the transit through the Panama Canal.
Counsel Julio Berrios requested absolution because international law applies to states but not to individuals. "In any case, the violation [of the UN Security Council provisions] was from North Korea and Cuba, who is the owner of the weapons," he said.
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