One arrested in Ermenek mining case: Court

KARAMAN – Anadolu Agency

DHA Photo

The first court hearing in the case into the Ermenek mine disaster, which left 18 miners dead late last year in the Central Anatolian province of Karaman, was finalized late on June 17 with an interim decision for the arrest of the operation manager of the mining company. 

The first, three-day-long trial into the mining accident in Ermenek, which has 16 defendants, closed with the arrest decision for Yavuz Özsoy, the operation manager of the Hasşekerler Mining Company, on the grounds that he could tamper the evidence in the case or escape. 

The court also ruled for the continuation of the arrests of three suspects: Has Şekerler Mining Company owner Saffet Uyar, Ermenek Cenne Lignite Coal Company Manager Abdullah Özbey, and technical staff member Ali Kurt. The trial has been postponed to July 7.

The Ermenek Court for Serious Crimes filed the case after the Ermenek Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office produced a 168-page indictment against 16 defendants. Of the defendants, 14 were charged with “carelessly and intentionally causing the death of multiple persons,” one was charged with “unauthorized approval of official documents,” and another was charged with with “failure to notify officials about the disaster.” 

A total of 62 plaintiffs, including the families and colleagues of the fallen miners, were involved in the case.

The court session was held in an 80-seat court hall with the presence of 27 people, including widows who lost their husbands in the accident, members of the dead miner’s families, and attorneys representing both victims and defendants.