A Mississauga man is facing a criminal negligence charge following the death of a passenger who fell overboard during an illegal boat cruise in Toronto this summer.
The incident occurred on the afternoon of August 23, when Toronto police responded to a marine rescue call on Lake Ontario near the Toronto Islands. Investigators say a vessel named Slow Motion was being operated as an unlicensed commercial charter with 16 passengers on board. During the outing, one passenger went overboard. The individual was later found deceased in the water.
Police allege that the boat’s operator, 35-year-old Nasme Saqqa of Mississauga, was running the charter without a commercial licence, proper registration, or insurance. He was the sole crew member on board at the time. Saqqa has been charged with criminal negligence causing death and is scheduled to appear in a Toronto court on Wednesday.
Authorities are reminding the public to verify that any charter vessel is properly registered as a commercial craft and that operators hold the required licences and insurance. “When hiring a commercial boat charter, the vessel must be registered as a commercial vessel, not a pleasure craft,” Toronto police emphasized in a statement.
The investigation remains ongoing, and anyone with information about the vessel or previous charters is urged to contact Toronto Police at 416-808-1400. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or through www.ontariocrimestoppers.ca. Tipsters remain anonymous, do not have to testify, and may be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.