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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Turkey Arrests Several Executives Over Mining Disaster | Turkey Arrests Several Executives Over Mining Disaster |
| (4 months later) | |
| ISTANBUL — Under pressure from a public angered by the worst mining accident in Turkey’s history, Turkish authorities on Sunday detained 25 people and arrested at least three mining company executives after an initial investigation suggested that the company had failed to heed safety warnings, the local prosecutor’s office said. | |
| The company officials who were arrested, including the mine’s manager, were charged with causing multiple deaths and injuries through negligence in connection with the disaster that killed 301 people last week, the prosecutor’s office said. | The company officials who were arrested, including the mine’s manager, were charged with causing multiple deaths and injuries through negligence in connection with the disaster that killed 301 people last week, the prosecutor’s office said. |
| The charges carry sentences of three to 15 years in prison upon conviction, according to Turkey’s penal code. Later Sunday, a fourth person was also arrested, Turkish media reported. | The charges carry sentences of three to 15 years in prison upon conviction, according to Turkey’s penal code. Later Sunday, a fourth person was also arrested, Turkish media reported. |
| Anger over the disaster has prompted protests and clashes with the police in several cities, and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s abrasive responses to protesters further infuriated residents of the region. Over the past year, Mr. Erdogan has faced street protests in Istanbul and a continuing corruption inquiry, but he retains a tight grip on power and is expected to run for president in the next election. | Anger over the disaster has prompted protests and clashes with the police in several cities, and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s abrasive responses to protesters further infuriated residents of the region. Over the past year, Mr. Erdogan has faced street protests in Istanbul and a continuing corruption inquiry, but he retains a tight grip on power and is expected to run for president in the next election. |
| Heavy security measures have been established in and around Soma, where the mine is, to prevent more protests. On Thursday, thousands of demonstrators called for the government to resign and blamed the authorities for lax oversight of the mining company’s operations. The demonstrators were dispersed by the police, who fired tear gas and water cannons. | Heavy security measures have been established in and around Soma, where the mine is, to prevent more protests. On Thursday, thousands of demonstrators called for the government to resign and blamed the authorities for lax oversight of the mining company’s operations. The demonstrators were dispersed by the police, who fired tear gas and water cannons. |
| Local media reports said that in addition to the mine’s manager, two engineers and a security official were arrested, and the owner of the mining company as well as a technical consultant and shift directors were among those taken into custody in connection with the disaster at the mine in the town of Soma in western Turkey. | Local media reports said that in addition to the mine’s manager, two engineers and a security official were arrested, and the owner of the mining company as well as a technical consultant and shift directors were among those taken into custody in connection with the disaster at the mine in the town of Soma in western Turkey. |
| The initial report about the possible causes of the accident compiled by investigators said that the fire in the mine was not caused by a transformer explosion as originally suggested but by smoldering coal that ignited, said Bekir Sahiner, the spokesman for the local prosecutor’s office in the Soma region. | The initial report about the possible causes of the accident compiled by investigators said that the fire in the mine was not caused by a transformer explosion as originally suggested but by smoldering coal that ignited, said Bekir Sahiner, the spokesman for the local prosecutor’s office in the Soma region. |
| Poisonous carbon monoxide then spread through the mine’s tunnels, Mr. Sahiner said. A detailed report was still being assembled, he said, and prosecutors were deciding whether to charge or release the others in custody. The official investigation involves 31 people from the prosecutor’s office. | Poisonous carbon monoxide then spread through the mine’s tunnels, Mr. Sahiner said. A detailed report was still being assembled, he said, and prosecutors were deciding whether to charge or release the others in custody. The official investigation involves 31 people from the prosecutor’s office. |
| Ozgur Ozel, an opposition party lawmaker who tried to call the government’s attention to dangerous conditions at the Soma mine more than two weeks before the disaster, criticized the prosecutor’s office for not filing more serious charges against the company’s executives. | Ozgur Ozel, an opposition party lawmaker who tried to call the government’s attention to dangerous conditions at the Soma mine more than two weeks before the disaster, criticized the prosecutor’s office for not filing more serious charges against the company’s executives. |
| The judge assigned to the case asked mine officials why they failed to issue warnings when high carbon monoxide levels were detected before the fire erupted, the Anadolu News Agency reported Mr. Ozel saying. | The judge assigned to the case asked mine officials why they failed to issue warnings when high carbon monoxide levels were detected before the fire erupted, the Anadolu News Agency reported Mr. Ozel saying. |
| Ramazan Dogru, the company’s general manager, who was among those detained Sunday, and Akin Celik, the mine’s manager, who was arrested, denied during a news conference last week that there was any negligence on their part. Company officials have insisted that the mine was inspected regularly. | Ramazan Dogru, the company’s general manager, who was among those detained Sunday, and Akin Celik, the mine’s manager, who was arrested, denied during a news conference last week that there was any negligence on their part. Company officials have insisted that the mine was inspected regularly. |