Ballerina sought in cruise ship probe
CHISINAU, Moldova: Italian police are seeking a ballerina they believe may shed light on the Costa Concordia disaster.
Domnica Cemortan was seen cavorting with Captain Francesco Schettino in the minutes before his cruise ship foundered on rocks.
Italian authorities believe Schettino, 52, dubbed Captain Coward, may have been distracted from his command by trying to impress the dancer.
They say the 25-year-old Moldovan is a key witness.
Eleven people are dead and 30 missing after the ship came to grief on a rocky outcrop off the Tuscan island of Giglio. It was carrying 4 200 passengers.
Cemortan, who has a twoyear-old daughter, had worked as a translator for the Concordia but was on holiday on the ship at the time of Friday night’s disaster.
A grainy photograph was taken of her on the bridge. It is thought that she might be able to shed light on Schettino’s decision to sail close to Giglio to perform a “salute” for a former crew member and for the ship’s head waiter.
Cemortan and Schettino were seen wining and dining together 30 minutes before the disaster.
A passenger, Angelo Fabri, said the captain was drinking wine, although Schettino has said he stayed off alcohol.
A source for operator Costa Cruises said: “We cannot confirm or deny that she was on the bridge. To be honest, nobody quite knows what Schettino was up to.”
In an interview with Moldovan newspaper Adevarul, Cemortan admitted being on the bridge and that “he (Schettino) was there”.
Italian newspapers claimed yesterday that Schettino had admitted being with Cemortan at the time and that she was not on the official passenger manifest. Her mother said the cruise was a birthday present. – Daily Mail