Ahmed Alkwrab thought his ordeal was over last June when he endured among the most dangerous shipwrecks ever recorded in the Mediterranean Sea and finally set foot on European soil.

Hours after a fishing trawler bring hundreds of migrants capsized, nevertheless, the Egyptian housepainter discovered himself being interrogated by Greek authorities who then charged him and eight others with smuggling and causing the disaster.

If convicted, he would have dealt with life imprisonment.

When they sat me in a room by myself and shut me in, the fear began. What's wrong? What's occurred? Did I do anything? he told Reuters.

They're informing us that we are smugglers. Traffickers? No, no, no, no - that's not how it is at all.

Their arrests triggered outrage from global rights groups who said the migrants were being used as scapegoats for coastguard mistakes and that the case versus them was flimsy.

Alkwrab and the other accused invested 11 months in pre-trial detention awaiting a chance to argue their innocence. When that opportunity came last month, the judge threw out the case within hours, enabling the guys to walk totally free.

Alkwrab's often emotional account, shared specifically with Reuters, is the first time any of the accused have actually spoken openly about their experience.

He and the others were accused of being part of the ship's. crew, giving out water and repairing things. He rejects this.

I didn't do it. Nor did I give anybody a mouthful of water,. nor did I fix a boat or go down to the engine.

The overcrowded Adriana was carrying approximately 750 Pakistani,. Syrian and Egyptian migrants before it capsized off Greece on. June 14, one of the worst catastrophes in a decade-long. Mediterranean migrant crisis. It raised concerns about the EU's. treatment of migrants, many of whom run the risk of death for a more. prosperous life in Europe.

Just 104 survivors and 82 bodies were found.

The cause of the shipwreck is challenged. Survivors say the. coastguard caused the boat to capsize during an unsuccessful attempt to. tow it. The coastguard rejects this, saying that the migrants'. motions on board had actually triggered it to sink.

NOT QUITE FREE

Alkwrab said hardship had required him to leave Sadat city in. Egypt.

The youngest of his 3 children was born with a lung. condition that required expensive treatment that 2 tasks. couldn't spend for.

He wanted to reunite with his sibling in Italy and find work. and borrowed 140,000 Egyptian pounds ($ 2,954) from friends to. pay for the journey.

Alkwrab burglarized sobs as he stated his time in jail,. missing his kids growing up and his boy Omar's very first words. He did not communicate with the jail guards. Fellow inmates informed. them there was no other way they would ever be launched.

Short calls with his family kept him going. They told him to. look after himself and that God would not forget him.

The thing that injured me the most was Omar calling me 'Dad'. when I was in jail, Alkwrab said.

The happiest day in 11 months was when I came out innocent. One day in 11 months, he added.

Alkwrab is remaining now in Athens waiting for word on his asylum. request. He doesn't feel totally free yet.

I actually want to end up being legal in this nation, Alkwrab. said. To prove to everybody that we are here for a function, to. do something to alter our lives..