Northern Cyprus transport chief relieved of duties
Erhan Arıklı, the head of the transport authority in northern Cyprus, has been relieved of his duties amid an investigation into the sinking of a passenger ferry off the coast of Kyrenia. This was announced on the evening of September 2 by Ünal Üstel, head of the administration in the north of the island, Cyprus Mail reports.
Investigation into the ferry sinking
Üstel said he had expanded the circle of officials removed after the incident so that police and judicial authorities could conduct the investigation without grounds for doubt. According to the publication, the ferry sank on Sunday, and the death toll stands at at least nine people.
At the same time, Üstel noted that further decisions concerning Arıklı would be made within the provisions and powers provided for by the constitution. As Cyprus Mail writes, this leaves uncertain the issue of the immediate distribution of the transport authority's powers.
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Immunity and port administration
Earlier, Arıklı said that on Thursday he would ask the Turkish Cypriot legislative body to strip him of parliamentary immunity. According to him, this should allow judicial authorities to act freely within the investigation, take his testimony if necessary, and refer the case to court.
On Wednesday, responsibility for port administration in northern Cyprus was transferred from the transport authority to Üstel's office. Arıklı was criticized by relatives of 20 people whose fate has still not been established following the disaster. They were near the entrance to the new Kyrenia port and demanded that the official come to them, but he did not do so before being relieved of his duties.
Üstel also met with Duralı İşler from a Turkish Transport Ministry unit investigating maritime accidents. He promised to publish a preliminary investigation report as soon as possible and said that technical examinations of the disaster and the ferry itself would still be conducted, with their results to be carefully assessed.
