Permission to investigate state officials over set designer’s death of COVID-19
* Ali Cem Köroğlu
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Upon a criminal complaint, a permission has been granted to investigate State Theaters' Director General Mustafa Kurt, İzmir State Theaters' Director Levent Ulukut and Vice Artistic Technical Director Hakan Eroğlu as well as İzmir State Theaters' Contracted Artist Sıddık Akın Kurt over the death of set designer Ali Cem Köroğlu due to novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
The Labor Union of Culture, Art and Tourism Employees applied to the İzmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on December 8 and filed a criminal complaint against the state officials. In its criminal complaint, the union also requested permission for investigation against the related officials.
Releasing a written statement about the issue, the union has announced that the related permission has been granted by the ministry.
The union has reminded the public that the criminal complaint was filed into an incident where 19 public officials caught the coronavirus while working in the rehearsal and performance of a theater play titled "Karıncalar - Bir Savaş Vardı" (Ants - There was a War) at the İzmir State Theaters and costume designer Ali Cem Köroğlu lost his life as a result of it.
The union has indicated that a criminal complaint was filed on December 8, 2020 against the Director General of the State Theaters and the Director of İzmir State Theaters as well as other public officials whose relation or negligence in the incident would be identified.
Accordingly, the union also requested a permission for investigation from the Ministry of Tourism and Culture against the related officials as per the Law no. 4483 on Trial of Civil Servants and Other Public Officials.
The Labor Union of Culture, Art and Tourism Employees has announced that upon its criminal complaint, a permission has been granted to investigate State Theaters' Director General Mustafa Kurt, İzmir State Theaters' Director Levent Ulukut and Vice Artistic Technical Director Hakan Eroğlu as well as İzmir State Theaters' Contracted Artist Sıddık Akın Kurt.
What happened?
At the İzmir State Theaters, affiliated with the Ministry of Tourism and Culture's State Theaters, 19 public officials caught the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) while working in the rehearsal and performance of a theater play titled "Karıncalar - Bir Savaş Vardı" (Ants - There was a War).
Treated for the virus for some time, set and costume designer Ali Cem Köroğlu lost his life on December 5, 2020.
It was reported that after Ali Cem Köroğlu and his colleagues caught the virus, adequate measures were not taken, both the rehearsals and performances continued. Calling it "the anatomy of a murder", main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) MP Sera Kadıgil shared the following information at the Parliament on December 8, 2020:
* November 18: The wife of the State Theaters General Director came from Ankara to İzmir for the premiere of her son's play. She started staying in the same house with her son. * November 21: The Director General of the State Theaters tested positive for the virus.
* November 24: The premiere of the solo of the director's son was held. The mother who came from a distance of 700 kilometers and was staying with her son did not come to the premiere for some reason. * November 25: The leading actor, the son of the Director General, tested positive for the virus. November 25: İzmir State Theaters closed its doors.
* November 26: Ali Cem Köroğlu tested positive for COVID-19 as well as 19 other stage laborers who were tested for the virus with their own means in the following days. * December 5: Ali Cem Köroğlu lost his life.
(AÖ/SD)