All Suspects in Trial of Şirvan Mine Occupational Homicide Released
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All arrested suspects have been released in the trial of the occupational homicide killing 16 miners in a copper mine in Şirvan district of Siirt province.
On November 17, 2016, 16 mine workers had lost their lives buried in the wreckage which occurred due to a slope failure in the copper mine during the construction works carried out by Antlar Constructions; a sub-contractor company of Park Elektrik associated with Ciner Group.
Seven people including the Operating Manager of the mining company Mehmet Oğuz as well as its occupational safety specialist were arrested.
The first hearing of the case in which 11 suspects stood trial seven of whom were in pre-detention was held yesterday (May 18) before the Siirt 2nd High Criminal Court.
Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Batman MP Saadet Becerikli as well as the Human Rights Foundation Siirt Office Chair Zana Aksu who also had lost relatives in the occupational homicide attended the hearing.
Hearing objections of the suspect's lawyers, the president of the court ruled that there was no risk of escape of the suspects and ordered that the seven arrested suspects be released due to lack of evidence.
What happened?
On November 17, 2016, 16 mine workers had lost their lives buried in the wreckage which occurred due to a slope failure in the copper mine during the construction works carried out by Antlar Constructions; a sub-contractor company of Park Elektrik associated with Ciner Group.
As a part of the investigation launched subsequently, 11 people were arrested including three engineers and some crew chiefs. Upon objections by their lawyers, four suspects were released pending trial.
The Siirt 2nd High Criminal Court accepted the Chief Public Prosecutor's bill of indictment which said that the the copper mine which had been exposed to heavy rain construction works should have been halted and safety measures should have been taken, which was not the case.
Suspects including some executives and engineers of the Park Elektrik and Antlar Constructions namely, Mehmet Oğuz, Selman Kazak, Servet Keklik, Mehmet Kezer, Serkan Gürühan, Bayram Kayar, Kadir Yıldırım, Gülistan Gök, Vedat Ant, Nureddin Ant and Adnan Ant are standing trial facing each from 2two to 15 years in prison on charge of "recklessly causing death of several people". (NV/DG)