KONYA, Turkey
A court in central Turkey is hearing testimony as the trial beings of 16 suspects over a mining disaster last year in which 18 men died.
The workers were trapped in a flooded coal mine last October after a water pipe exploded in Ermenek, Karaman province, some 400 kilometers (248 miles) south of the capital, Ankara.
Rescue teams had to work for 38 days to recover the bodies.
Monday saw the first day of the trial in Ermenek of 16 defendants in connection with the disaster -- including mining company owner Saffet Uyar, mining permit holder Abdullah Ozbey and engineering supervisor Ali Kurt.
Fourteen of the suspects, including operating manager Yavuz Ozsoy and mining company manager Mehmet Zeybek, are being tried on charges of 'causing death of more than one individual with conscious negligence'.
Mining engineer supervisor Kurt also appeared before the court on charges of 'forging private documents' as did mine worker Naci Ozsoy.
According to an expert report, the men’s deaths were caused by a massive flood which was "definitely not a natural disaster".
The bill of indictment claims the company avoided an inspection with a ‘fake’ invoice worth $20,000.
The trial continues.
