Fake report, testimonies used to hide worker’s death, inspection reveals

İsmail Saymaz ISTANBUL

Lack of worker safety is currently under the spotlight in Turkey after a string of labor accidents.

Two police officers cooperated with a construction employer to hide the death of a worker, 62-year-old Mehmet Altun, in an occupational accident, an investigation has revealed.

An initial report on Altun’s death on April 2, which was mainly made up of an undetailed doctor’s report based on the testimonies of two colleague workers, said he had suddenly died at the site, apparently of natural causes. A police report also stated that Altun, who had retired and was working unregistered, was at the site to inspect an under-construction property before purchasing it.

However, his wife and daughter asked for a further inspection and the second forensic report after the autopsy on Jan 21 showed that he died after falling and he suffered a broken femur.

Meanwhile, the signatures of Altun’s wife and daughter under a testimony stating that he died while inspecting the house also turned out to be fake. His wife said she was illiterate and had to use her fingerprint for signatures.

She also said the contractor had promised her financial benefits if she did not register a complaint about the incident.