It was revealed that M.Ö, the captain of the ship that left the port from Kyrenia city of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to Mersin Taşucu port but sank after a while, bought his driver's license from Honduras for 3 thousand 500 dollars. The expert report stated that the ship could return to the port without sinking. The number of people who lost their lives in the accident increased to 10.
9 suspects, including the captain, crew and company employees, regarding the ship that capsized off the coast of the city of Kyrenia in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), appeared before the judge for the second time.
It was seen that the police took extensive security measures while bringing 9 suspects to the Kyrenia District Court in the investigation against a total of 16 people.
In addition to captain M.Ö., who is under judicial custody, female mate M.N.S. and crew members M.G, S.E, V.H, R.İ, Z.Ö. and K.K. and company employee A.Ö. asked questions about the accident.
While the police officer who testified stated that there was a lot of evidence, documents and statements regarding the accident, the court announced that the alcohol and drug test results of the 9 suspects had not yet been received.
DRIVING LICENSE WITH MONEY FROM HONDURAS
It was recorded that at the end of the validity period of M.Ö's previous driver's license, since he could not get a driver's license from Türkiye, he bought his new captain's license from Honduras for 3 thousand 500 dollars, which was accepted as equivalent by the TRNC, and that there was no legal problem in this sense. Maritime experts said that these licenses are not valid on Turkish flagged ships.
SECOND CAPTAIN WARNED
The female first officer of the ship, M.N.S. In his statement, he claimed that he warned the captain not to go on a voyage on the day of the accident, and that the captain decided to sail despite this.
M.N.S claimed that the cruise ship left the port, even though he objected to the captain making the voyage decision.
The first officer also stated in his statement that the captain of the ship was aware that the ship was taking on water, but he acted as a result of his assessment that it did not pose an obstacle to the voyage.
The court panel noted that the records had not reached them because the ship's black box had not yet been found, and announced that it was determined that the captain did not take the logbook with him when he left the ship.
The person who made the emergency call from the ship was the first officer, M.N.S. The court found that the ship's past accidents and repairs, as well as all its permits, were entered into the file.
The first expert reports presented also included the assessment that if the ship slowed down from the moment it started to take on water, there was a high probability of returning to the port without sinking.
8 DAYS ADDITIONAL DETENTION PERIOD
During the investigation, it was decided to extend the detention periods of 9 people for 8 more days, to take the necessary statements and to collect relevant evidence.
In addition, while there was no need for 5 suspects, 2 port officials and 3 company employees, to come to court, the report submitted by the police stated that the 2 wanted suspects were outside the TRNC.
THE NUMBER OF THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES INCREASED TO 10
Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz made a statement at the press conference held together with the Prime Minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Ünal Üstel.
Yılmaz said, "We have learned that the body of 1 more person was found and taken upstairs. The body of whose body was found will be shared with the public after the identification is made in accordance with the administrative procedures. I would like to state that the number of those who died in this way has increased to 10."
THE SHIP CAPSISHED OFF THE OFF KYRENIA
The high-speed passenger ship named "Fleet Jet", which operates between Kyrenia Port in TRNC and Taşucu Port in Mersin, started to take in water from its front part shortly after departing from Kyrenia at noon on Sunday.
239 people were rescued from the ship, which capsized while trying to return to Kyrenia Port, the bodies of 9 people were found, and a search was launched for the 19 missing people.
It was reported that the wreckage of the sunken ship was found at a depth of 550 meters in the sea off the coast of Kyrenia.
