MANISA, Turkey
A Turkish court approved Saturday a bill of indictment in the case of the coalmine blast in the western town of Soma, which left 301 workers dead in May 2014.
“I believe the date of the hearing will be announced next week,” said Serhan Celik, vice president of the Manisa Bar Association.
The incident was the deadliest mining accident in Turkey’s history.
Prosecutors requested sentences of 20-25 years for eight defendants for each of the 301 mine deaths for alleged charges of "possible intentional killing" and "aggravated injury."
The indictment also requested that 37 other suspects be sentenced to prison terms between two and 15 years.
