Suspected of using slave labor sailors on SS Veles taken into custody in Vladivostok

Persons suspected under criminal case of using Russian slave labor sailors on SS Veles (owned by Damelo Group) are taken into custody by the decision of Frunzensky district court in Vladivostok, says press center of Far East transport investigation department.

The owners of the off-shore Damelo Group Gleb Klokov and Vladimir Bobrov will be in custody till June 17, 2013. The investigation is in progress.

The Veles (the crew comprising 11 Russian from the Far East, 8 Indians and Ukrainians) has already spent about a month at the Philippines in Rio Tuba port. The vessel’s port of registration is Funafuti, flag – Tuvalu (withdrawn). The vessel had no electricity supply, water or food. The crew did not get wages for 5 months. The Administration of Primorsk territory defrayed expenses of the Russian crewmembers delivery to Russia. On April 17, seafarers arrived in Vladivostok.

In is not the first case of investigation into Damelo Group activities. Another criminal case on using slave labor sailors on SS ROSS in 2011 is under proceedings at the Far East transport investigation department.