BeckyJohnson
Essex County Police prosecuted prosecutor Maurice Robinson with 39 counts of manslaughter, human trafficking, illegal immigration assistance and money laundering.
"The Prosecutor has authorized the Essex County police to prosecute a man involved in the investigation of the death of 39 people found in the town of Grays on October 23. Maurice Robinson, 25, of residence Laurel Drive, Craigavon, Northern Ireland was arrested shortly after the bodies were discovered in Waterglade, "Essex County Police said in a statement posted on its website on October 26.
Northern Ireland driver Mo Robinson, 25, who controls 39 containers of the body, was discovered on October 23 Photo: Huffington Post
Robinson will appear in front of the Chelmsford Magistrate's Court on October 28 on charges of manslaughter of 39 people, conspiracy to join trafficking, conspiracy to support illegal immigration and money laundering.
He was a driver of a container truck carrying 39 victims leaving Purfleet port, England on the morning of October 23. After driving the car parked in the Waterglade industrial park about 40 minutes later, Robinson opened the container and discovered the bodies should notify the authorities.
After arresting and interrogating Robinson, British police arrested three other suspects related to the deaths of 39 people on October 25.
British authorities initially believed the victims, including 31 men and 8 women, were Chinese, but authorities were investigating suspected victims of non-Chinese nationality. The Vietnamese diplomatic agency is working closely with the British authorities, sharing information during the investigation to identify the victims.
British police chief police officer Martin Pasmore today asked Vietnamese in the UK to help identify 39 victims. "If you come here, we will do everything to welcome you, help you through this process, identify as quickly as possible to see if any of your acquaintances in this tragedy", Pasmore asserted.
The Vietnamese Embassy in the UK is working with local authorities to identify victims and is ready to take measures to protect citizens in the event that a victim is a Vietnamese citizen. For assistance in case of need of assistance, please contact the Citizens' Protection Hotline of the Vietnamese Embassy in the UK: +44 7713 181 501 or the telephone number of the Call Center Protection of citizens is: +84 981 84 84 84.
