ANKARA – Hürriyet

The entrance of the Soma mine has been closed with a brick wall on May 18. AA Photo
Nineteen people were detained May 18 as part of the investigation into the Soma coal mine accident, the Manisa Governor has said in a statement.

“Nineteen people have been detained as suspects. The interrogation of five of the suspects is still ongoing,” Governor Abdurrahman Savaş said.

Doğan News Agency, meanwhile, has reported that the number of detained suspects is 24.

High-ranking officials of the company operating the Soma mine, including operating manager Ramazan Doğru and chief engineer Akın Çelik, are among the detained company officials, daily Hürriyet has reported.

Prosecutors have sent five of the suspects to court, demanding their arrest, private broadcaster NTV has reported.

The entrance of the mine has been closed with a brick wall, after the authorities called for an end to rescue works.

All mining activities have also been halted, upon a decision by the Turkish Labor Inspection Board. Only inspectors and prosecutors investigating the accident are now allowed to enter the vicinity of the mine.

Company head to be tried for fraud

Meanwhile, a lawsuit against Alp Gürkan, the head of Soma Coal Mine Company, has been opened on fraud charges, daily Hürriyet reported. Prosecutors are demanding a prison term from six to 18 years in the case, which is separate from the probe into the mine disaster.

The indictment prepared by the Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office demands to try Gürkan on charges of being a member of a criminal organization founded by businessman Korkmaz Yiğit, and being involved in a fraudulent bankruptcy.

Some 17 suspects, including Gürkan, reportedly bought property in the Avcılar, Ispartakule, Tahtakale neighborhoods of Istanbul on behalf of Korkmaz Yiğit. All suspects, including Gürkan, are expected to stand trial next month at the Istanbul 12th High Criminal Court.

May/18/2014