A hearing was held at the Kyrenia District Court under the leadership of Judge Hazal Hacımulla to discuss developments related to the FİLO JET passenger ship owned by Filo Maritime. The ship’s previous accident in Turkey 12 years ago resurfaced the issue when it was purchased by Filo Maritime in 2024, obtaining a sailing permit. The situation intensified with the recent disaster during the ship’s last voyage.
During the court session, a three-day detention order was issued for the nine suspects. Judge Hazal Hacımulla decided to initiate legal proceedings not only against these individuals, including the ship’s captain, seven crew members, and a company official, but also against company shareholders and harbor authority officials.
Police Inspector Mehmet Mannaş emphasized details noted during the hearing, stating that the Filo Jet passenger ship experienced a serious malfunction shortly after departing from Kyrenia Port. He reported that the ship’s front left section broke after traveling approximately 4 miles, leading to its capsizing. Of the total of 267 people onboard, 239 were rescued alive during search and rescue operations, while eight lost their lives.
Mannaş stated that all aspects of the accident would be thoroughly investigated and indicated that the nine arrested individuals faced charges of “causing death by negligence and carelessness.” Notable figures among them included the company director and the ship’s captain, M.Ö.
Investigating the Causes of the Accident
Mannaş mentioned that all necessary permits and approvals related to the ship were obtained, highlighting permissions from the Turkish Lloyd and the Port Authority. He asserted that the passenger and cargo capacities of the ship were not exceeded. It was also reported that a favorable weather conditions report from the Meteorology Department was received before the voyage.
In response to the question of whether the ship had permission and technical capacity to navigate in international waters, Judge Hacımulla confirmed that all permits were in place. However, she added that obtaining detailed information about prior damages was also important.
Views of the Lawyers and Defense
The attorney representing the suspects present at the court did not contest the arrest order. Additionally, he claimed that there were recordings demonstrating the ship’s rescue capabilities and the crew’s efforts to assist passengers. However, he noted that the person claiming the ship was damaged did not possess adequate technical knowledge.
As a result of all evaluations, the judge ruled for the nine suspects arrested in connection with the accident to remain in custody for three days. She also ordered an immediate investigation into the harbor authority officials and company shareholders. These developments marked an important step towards clearly identifying the causes and responsibilities of the accident.
Source: www.diyaloggazetesi.com
