/ 26 August 1999

PRAWN BOAT SINKS AFTER CHASE

A SOUTH African owned fishing boat sank off the Mozambican coast after being chased by local maritime authorities and a Russian-owned vessel, state radio reported on Thursday. The seven-ton boat carrying a load of prawns went down after striking a sandbar off Ponta de Ouro on the border between Mozambique and South Africa on Monday, the radio said. The owner and two of his Mozambican employees, were rescued and taken to hospital for treatment. Mateus Zandamela, managing director of fishing company Pescas de Mocambique, told the radio that Stein was trying to escape following a series of accusations levelled against him.