5 Arrested in Ermenek Workplace Murder Case

5 suspects including mine owner Saffet Uyar have been arrested for charges related to “purposefully neglected murder” of workers in the central district of Ermenek, Karaman. 

On October 28, a subsidence has been reported in a private coal mine located nearby Pamuklu village located in the central province of Karaman. While the water flooding in the mine left 18 workers trapped inside, search teams found 2 dead bodies on November 7. 

Within the investigation, 8 suspects have detained. Out of 8, 5 have been arrested and 3 released within judiciary controls. 

Among the 8 detainees included Has Şekerler Mining Co. owner Saffet Uyar, licence owner of the mine Abdullah Özbey, mine executive officer  Yavuz Özsoy, mining engineers Cemile Karaca, Nuray Yetiş and Ali Kurt, executive officer of mine executive firm Mehmet Zeybek, as well as occupational security expert Engin Yeti.

“We don’t have the production map of the previous mine site,” mine owner Saffet Uyar reportedly told the prosecutor during his statement. (NV/BM)

* Click here to read the article in Turkish.