Authorities have apprehended a man suspected of running an unauthorized boat charter service following a tragic incident where a passenger fell overboard near Toronto Islands and lost their life this summer.
During the early hours of a day in August, Toronto police responded to a distress call at Lake Ontario close to the islands.
According to reports, the individual in question had allegedly accepted a party of 16 individuals who had paid for a private boat excursion on August 23. Tragically, one of the passengers went overboard into Lake Ontario and was subsequently discovered deceased in the water.
Investigators claim that the suspect was unlawfully conducting boat charters using the vessel named “Slow Motion,” operating solo with no additional crew members. Furthermore, it is alleged that the accused did not possess the necessary commercial licensing and registration to run a commercial boat charter service.
Nasme Saqqa, a 35-year-old resident of Mississauga, was taken into custody on Tuesday and is facing charges of criminal negligence leading to death.
He is slated to make a court appearance at the Toronto Regional Bail Court on Wednesday. The marine unit officers in collaboration with Transport Canada conducted an investigation into the incident.