In a growing scandal over the sinking of an excursion boat on New Year's Eve, the head of the Merchant Marine Union said Wednesday the ship was piloted by a former car mechanic without a captain's license.

A Brazilian industrialist, meanwhile, reported to police that he overheard a musician of the ship's orchestra say Coast Guard officials had been bribed about $120 to let the vessel proceed overloaded.The boat company and the Coast Guard declined comment on the new charges.

The accusations came a day after a former owner of the excursion boat the Bateau Mouche IV, which capsized on New Year's Eve, said the vessel had been modified to carry only 60 persons at most.

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Authorities said the death toll stood at 52 with nine people missing.

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