According to foreign media reports, three seafarers were recently detained by Turkish police on drug-related charges, two of whom are Korean and one is Filipino. The maritime department is seeking a meeting with relevant authorities in the country to address issues related to the crew’s conviction.
On July 30 local time, approximately 13 kilograms of cocaine were discovered on the 62,500 deadweight ton bulk carrier “Grandis”, owned by the Korea-based Pan Ocean Shipping Co. The 65-year-old captain Jung Sang-yong, the 47-year-old chief mate Hwang Jin-ho, and the 45-year-old bosun Allan Labnao Salcedo were all detained.
Fabrizio Barcellona, Seafarers’ Section Coordinator of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), told Seatrade Maritime News: “We are not sure where the crew is being held. Based on past experience, it could be in a prison or a police station; the information is not clear yet. We are waiting for the legal team from the NorthStandard P&I Club to report back to us.”
Local union representatives in Turkey stated that the prosecutor is still investigating the case, which means it is under a “confidentiality order,” making it difficult to obtain relevant information.
The International Transport Workers’ Federation has sent a letter of concern to the Turkish authorities regarding this matter. We are maintaining contact with the crew’s lawyers and awaiting the lifting of the confidentiality order to obtain more detailed information.
Meanwhile, Ali Al-Bokhari, who has been detained in Turkey for a long time, was sentenced earlier this year to 30 years in prison by Turkey for the crime of “negligence” after drugs were found on the ship “Phoenix M”.
Elena Albokhari, Ali Al-Bokhari’s wife, who attended a meeting in London last week with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), said that the team in London is working to secure her husband’s release.
Elena Albokar, who is from Russia and resides in Finland, said she feels very helpless as Ali’s family is in Syria and her family is in Moscow. She called for more support for families in similar situations.
Elena said: “All institutions should have more contact with the families of those detained. Perhaps a committee could be established to communicate more with these families, to help them, because it took me two years to figure out what to do and to raise money to visit my husband.”
Meanwhile, Ali Al-Bokhari still cannot access the medication he needs to control his liver disease, for which he was receiving treatment even before he boarded the Marshall Islands-registered vessel “Phoenix M”.
“The Turkish authorities said he has allergies, but I know he has health problems,” Elena confirmed, mentioning the recent release of Captain Marko Bekavac, a Croatian citizen.
Captain Bekavac was suddenly released in August this year without prior notice, after being sentenced to 30 years in prison alongside Ali.
The captain was released pending a ruling on the case by the Turkish Supreme Court. Previously, the prosecutor decided to drop the charges of negligence for which both were convicted, meaning both could potentially be released.
According to maritime sources, Captain Bekavac’s sudden release was due to the Croatian government exchanging the captain for a Turkish drug smuggler arrested in Croatia.
Compiled by Maritime Online.
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