VALLETTA, Malta – A Maltese court has fined the captain of the German humanitarian ship that rescued more than 200 migrants because it entered the Mediterranean island nation's waters last year with a ship that was not properly registered.
Though the court opted Tuesday against jailing the captain, Claus-Peter Reisch, due to the humanitarian backdrop, it did impose a fine of 10,000 euros ($11,300).
Reisch has eight days to decide whether to appeal the fine.
The court also denied a prosecution motion to confiscate the vessel.
The Lifeline has been in a Maltese port since last June, and will be free to leave once any appeal is settled.
Malta agreed to give it safe harbor following a six-day standoff, but only after Italy and other EU nations agreed to take in the migrants.
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