The trial in the case of the Ilinden boat sinking wrapped up Tuesday in the Ohrid Basic Court. The Judicial Council found Sotir Fileski, boat's captain, and Branko Baic, the representative of the German company Lloyd, guilty and sentenced them to one year in jail.

The verdict says that the defendants are guilty of causing severe deeds against people and property in traffic and that their unethical actions have prompted an accident to happen on 5 September 2009 on Lake Ohrid when Ilinden boat capsized, claiming the lives of 15 tourists from Bulgaria.

According to the verdict, Fileski had broken the law and regulations for internal shipping by not maintaining adequately the navigation system, while on the day of the disaster there had been more passengers in the vessel than authorised. The boat's captain also failed to engage a crew which is adequate for that kind of vessel.

Baic was found guilty for issuing a certificate that the ship was safe for sail, despite being aware of its irregularities.

Manufactured in 1924, the Ilinden boat capsized and submerged into the waters of Lake Ohrid on 5 September 2009 about 200 meters away from the shore.

15 out 56 passengers, who were tourists from Bulgaria on a day trip to the monastery of St. Naum near the Albanian border, perished.

The trial with respect to the accident started on 28 February 2011