Soma Mine Disaster Indictment Rejected

Akhisar High Criminal Court rejected an indictment on the death of 301 miners in the western district of Soma. Investigation of 45 suspects, the file was sent back to the prosecutor’s office.

According to Hürriyet newspaper, some of the reasons for the rejected were listed as incomplete hearing of all complainants, reduction of indictment without a TÜBİTAK expertise report and lack of communication between suspects and their actions.  

After being redrafted, the file is expected to be returned to the court. 

45 suspects 

A report written by Soma Prosecutor’s Office on the workplace murder in Soma taking place on May 13 was turned into a draft by Akhisar Prosecutor’s Office.  

The indictment specified 161 workers affected by the gas as complainants. It requested a prosecution into 45 suspects: 8 arrested and 37 pending a trial. 

Previously, Labor and Social Security Minister Faruk Çelik declined an investigation request into those who approved the mine for working. (NV/BM)

* Click here to read the article in Turkish.