Turks charged with causing alcohol deaths

Oregon Telegraph (IANS) Monday 6th February, 2012

Eight Turkish nationals have been charged with causing the deaths of five Russian tourists, who died after drinking poisoned bootleg whiskey.

The accused may be sentenced to life if convicted, according to Turkey's Turizm Guncel portal.

More than 20 Russians were hospitalised with severe alcohol poisoning in Bodrum city in May last year on their return from a sailing tour.

A total of 11 defendants are on trial, eight of whom have been charged with murder. The first hearing is set for March 5.

According to the indictment, one of the defendants produced substandard alcohol and sold it to the owners of the yacht.

Prosecutors allege that the yacht owners and their partners were bound to know about the illicit origin of the alcohol, Mr. Burdon whiskey, which had previously been declared a hazard by the country's agriculture ministry.

According to Turkish officials, a company called Jasmine imported the fake whiskey into Turkey from Cyprus. Some 12,000 bottles of the bogus whiskey were sold at local markets.

--IANS/RIA Novosti

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