Sicilian prosecutor investigates yacht disaster that killed billionaire

The prosecutor in Sicily has launched an investigation into the captain of a luxury yacht that sank near Palermo during a tornado. Seven people died, including British billionaire Mike Lynch and his daughter. New Zealander James Cutfield is suspected of causing the maritime disaster and unintentionally causing the deaths of several people.

The yacht Bayesian belonged to British billionaire Mike Lynch. Six days after the tragedy, the captain was questioned again on Sunday.

Thanks to the testimonies of the survivors—there are 15 of them in total—it was possible to reconstruct the last half hour, from the moment the vessel, anchored at night, started taking on water until it sank. One of the issues under investigation is whether the yacht's hatch was left open, which could have allowed water to enter.

In addition to the billionaire and his daughter, the victims included Morgan Stanley International CEO Jonathan Bloomer and his wife, as well as Lynch's lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife.

During a press conference in Sicily, the prosecutor informed that it is unknown whether there was a black box on board. "We are not certain because, at this stage, the operation was concentrated on searching for people," he announced.

According to the prosecutor, we must wait for the yacht to be raised from the seabed, and this—according to experts—requires the development of a special operational plan.

The press reports that a party was held on board during the voyage, organized to celebrate Lynch's acquittal following a 10-year legal battle over his business dealings.

"A long series of errors occurred. People should not have been in the cabins at that time," said Giovanni Costantino, the head of the company that built the yacht, to the newspaper "Corriere della Sera".

The prosecutor pointed out that the rescued crew members were not tested for alcohol and drugs.

"They were very exhausted, in shock, and needed medical assistance," he announced. He also stated that these individuals are allowed to leave Sicily but must remain available to the Italian investigators to provide further statements.

According to the prosecutor, everything indicates that the passengers who died were sleeping in the cabins at the time of the disaster. The bodies of these individuals were found below deck. Earlier, rescue teams reported that these people tried to escape from there.

Mike Lynch is a controversial figure in the business world. He was recently cleared of charges of fraud involving a multi-billion-dollar amount. The case concerned a 2011 transaction where HP bought Autonomy for CAD 11 billion. A year later, HP announced an CAD 8.8 billion write-down, alleging "accounting irregularities." HP accused Lynch of inflating the value of the start-up and committing fraud.

Born in Ireland, Lynch studied at Cambridge University, specializing in adaptive pattern recognition. His career in the technology industry began with the creation of several start-ups, including a company specializing in software for automatic licence plate and fingerprint recognition for the police.

Despite the controversies, Lynch was highly regarded in the British business community. He served as an advisor to the UK government and was called the "British Bill Gates."