The inquiry into the fire, which left nine intensive care unit patients dead when it broke out in the radiology department in the basement of the hospital on May. 26, 2009, was completed on Thursday. It is believed that technical failures at the hospital could have played a role in the outbreak of the fire. The former head physician of the hospital, Osman Naci Ç., manager Salim Ö., deputy managers Yakup G. and Mehmet G. and electrical engineer Süleyman K. were accused of causing the deaths of nine people through gross negligence and were recommended for prisons sentences of 15 years.
60 detained in anti-PKK operations
BATMAN The police took 60 people into custody yesterday in simultaneous operations conducted by anti-terrorism units in Batman, Diyarbakır, Van and İstanbul. A written statement issued by the Batman Governor’s Office indicates that a six-month investigation carried out by the Batman chief public prosecutor and the Batman Provincial Gendarmerie Command uncovered several people who had been aiding and abetting the outlawed Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK) as well as recruiting new PKK militants. The investigation also led to the simultaneous operations against the suspected PKK members and the discovery of various weapons. Noting that 60 suspects were detained in the operations, the statement said two Kalashnikov rifles, one infantry rifle, two guns, one blank cartridge, four shotguns, a hand grenade and several rounds of ammunition along with documents containing PKK propaganda were seized in the operations. Police began their interrogations of suspects yesterday. Reports also indicate a number of village guards were among the detainees, the Anatolia news agency stated.
TL 500,000 worth of artifacts seized
BURSA A number of historic artifacts with an estimated total value of TL 500,000 were seized on Thursday in an operation carried out by Ankara police teams. Officers from the anti-smuggling and organized crime unit had previously discovered that a woman, N.V., was attempting to sell historic artifacts in Ankara’s Etimesgut district. Pretending to be buyers, the officers met with N.V. after bargaining over the artifacts’ prices and detained her. Twenty-five historic artifacts dating back to the Roman era, including a glass jug, a glass cup, a miniature vase and coins, were seized after N.V. revealed where she kept the artifacts. After interrogation, the woman was referred to an Ankara courthouse.
