Five board members of owners, Costa Crociere, have been placed under investigation in connection with the January 2012 cruise ship accident.
The executives are reportedly being probed for possible collusion in the crimes of dereliction of duty and manslaughter that the ship's Captain, Francesco Schettino, and other crew members are being accused of. Top executives from parent company Carnival also sit on Costa Crociere's board, reports Ansa.it.
The new investigation is a separate from the one involving Schettino, which led to a preliminary hearing this week. The second probe has been opened after a group of lawyers representing some of the passengers aboard the Costa Concordia on its fateful journey, grouped together in the "Justice for Concordia" association, reported the company's management to authorities in April for their possible involvement in the accident.
Source: Ansa.it English