Turkish prosecutors are searching for jail phrases for a business vessel’s captain and crew for the dying of Mazu Yachts’ founder, Halit Yukay, over the summer time. The captain of the cargo ship Arel 7 faces as much as 9 years in jail, and the crew could obtain one to 3 years.
In accordance with the Turkish media outlet Haberler, the Bandirma Chief Public Prosecutor’s Workplace ready an indictment earlier this month. It discovered that Yukay’s boat, Graywolf, collided head on with the cargo ship Arel 7. The indictment says Yukay’s boat was cruising at full pace, and that he was primarily at fault. Nonetheless, it additionally says that the captain of Arel 7, Cemal Tokatlıoğlu, engaged in negligent habits.
Yukay was confirmed lifeless practically three weeks after the collision occurred on August 4. Search and rescue crews deployed late that night, following Yukay’s household contacting emergency personnel to say he was lacking. The searchers found the wreckage of Graywolf on August 5 however no indicators of the 43-year-old Yukay. Tokatlıoğlu contacted the Coast Guard that day, which led to the search. He reported seeing semi-submerged parts of a ship.
On August 7, the Balıkesir Governorate’s workplace revealed receiving a tip about Tokatlıoğlu. Moreover, the workplace indicated that the Coast Guard had proof of a collision. Scrapes alongside the bow of Arel 7 matched ones on the remnants of Greywolf. Taken to courtroom beneath suspicion of inflicting dying by negligence, the captain revealed he “out of the blue felt a tremor” whereas underway on August 4. He additionally stated he believed the floating particles he noticed was wooden and subsequently navigated the ship by means of it. Notably, Tokatlıoğlu contacted Arel 7’s shoreside consultant however not the Coast Guard, regardless of circling the ship again to the particles web site earlier than persevering with onward. He denied any collision occurred, too, whereas in courtroom.
The indictment seeks formal costs in opposition to Tokatlıoğlu for inflicting dying by negligence. It signifies that whereas he was on the bridge on the time of the collision, he did not hold correct watch. Concurrently, the indictment seeks costs in opposition to the eight crewmembers and the shoreside consultant. Particularly, they face inflicting dying as a result of failure to satisfy the duty to help and notify. Prosecutors state that nobody aboard Arel 7 tried to search for Yukay, regardless of realizing a collision occurred. None of them reported the accident to authorities, both.
The indictment reveals that neither Yukay nor Tokatlıoğlu realized a collision was pending. It cites evaluation of the wreckage and harm to Arel 7, which concluded that Greywolf was cruising at a excessive pace. Testimony from considered one of his pals additionally revealed that the 2 have been on the telephone whereas Yukay was underway. Cellphone data affirm that they have been nonetheless on the telephone when the collision occurred. The influence on Yukay’s physique revealed he’d been beneath deck at that second, and sure had little probability of survival. Regardless, “the accident occurred because of the failure of the business ship to carry out the mandatory lookout duties whereas Halit Yukay was touring at excessive pace,” the indictment reads. “This case has been evaluated as the principle technical reason behind the accident.”
The trial will start in December. Neither the captain nor crew of Arel 7 are in custody, although.
Mazu Yachts has continued operations since Yukay’s dying. Yukay’s household issued a press assertion by means of the Ersoy Bilgehan regulation agency. It seems on Mazu Yachts’ web site. Partially, it claims that the Arel 7 crew was pressured to stay silent following the collision. Moreover, it claims that the crew and vessel proprietor “tried to obscure proof.” The assertion criticizes “an incomplete investigation or the evaluation of an incompetent knowledgeable” with figuring out that Yukay was primarily at fault. It additionally criticizes the discharge of Tokatlıoğlu in August and once more in October. After his preliminary arrest in August, a decide ordered Tokatlıoğlu launched with a journey ban. Police re-arrested him days later on the Istanbul airport. He remained in jail by means of October, when one other courtroom launched him.
“All of those points have raised issues within the eyes of the deceased’s household and the general public,” the assertion continues. “We remorse to state that if the Arel 7’s crew had been on responsibility whereas underway, and if the ship’s officers and crew had instantly notified the related authorities following the collision, Halit Yukay, the late father of two, would nonetheless be alive at the moment.” The household provides, “This case goes past particular person injustice; it undermines the worth of human life and belief in maritime security.” The household does, although, categorical confidence that authorized authorities will deal with the case with “due seriousness and sensitivity.”
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