Previously detained employees of Maikainzoloto, where a bus carrying rescue workers fell into a sinkhole in January, have been released from the courtroom under house arrest. This is reported by the Telegram channel kerek.pv.
"The court today refused the investigators' request to remand the directors of Maikainzoloto JSC, who are suspects in the criminal case regarding the death of the mine rescue workers, in custody. All six defendants have been placed under house arrest," the statement reads.
It will be recalled that on 4 January, near the Maikain mine, a bus carrying four mine rescue workers fell into a 150-metre-deep stope. Later, information emerged that two bodies had been found. The bodies of rescue worker Aidos Shaikmerden and driver Aiyp Tleubergenov were only discovered in the summer.
In April, a commission consisting of representatives of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Akimat of Pavlodar Region, Maikainzoloto JSC, Republican Central Headquarters of Professional Paramilitary Emergency Rescue Services LLP, and a state labour inspector conducted an investigation into the accident, the results of which found the employer to be 100% at fault.
On 18 September, it became known that the General Director of Maikainzoloto JSC, Botin, his deputies Bashirov and Tereshkov, the Director of the Maikain Underground Mine (MPR) Shuvalov, the Deputy Director of the MPR Nazyrov, the Chief Engineer of the MPR Qayipqanuly, and the Chief Surveyor of the MPR Tuleubekov had been detained.
At the same time, it was reported that in March representatives of Maikainzoloto JSC had filed a lawsuit against the Republican State Enterprise 'Committee of Labour and Social Protection of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population' and the State Institution 'Committee of Industrial Safety of the Ministry of Emergency Situations', seeking to have the bus driver declared at fault rather than themselves. However, the company lost the case in court.