Rights group identifies flaws in Phoenician-M convictions
Authorities in Türkiye are applying significant pressure on a Finnish seafarer currently imprisoned in the country to accept a transfer to a prison in Finland. This move comes as investigators and family members warn that such a transfer could effectively end attempts to challenge the conviction of Ali Albokhari, the former chief mate of the bulk carrier Phoenician-M.
The sailor and the ship’s captain, Marko Bekovac, were convicted on drug charges by a Turkish court, and that conviction was upheld earlier this year by the country’s Supreme Court. However, a report by the advocacy group Human Rights At Sea (HRAS) has identified serious procedural flaws in the case, suggesting the original findings may be untenable.
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The HRAS report, authored by barrister David Hammond, highlights that the defense team was denied access to key evidence during the trial. Specifically, officials failed to request documentation from the port in Colombia, where the vessel had previously loaded a cargo of coal. The ship had been cleared to depart that port after an initial inspection discovered cocaine in the aft peak tank, but all crew were exonerated at that time.
The legal inconsistencies extend to the treatment of the two men. While Albokhari remains incarcerated, Bekovac was released on 8 August 2025 and flown to Croatia. His removal involved a Croatian diplomat and a representative from the Turkish Foreign Affairs ministry, yet no official explanation for his sudden release was provided by the Turkish judiciary.
Hammond stressed that this difference in outcomes is notable given the shared circumstances of arrest and the captain’s senior position onboard, representing a clear procedural divergence within the same case.
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The investigation also points to issues regarding the chain of custody for digital evidence. A USB drive seized from the captain at the time of his arrest was returned in a wiped state and was not produced in court.
Elena Albokhari, the chief mate’s wife, stated that authorities are now insisting her husband sign transfer forms. Finnish Prison and Probation Service regulations indicate that if a sentence is transferred, it is no longer permissible to contest the guilt of the accused. By moving the prisoner, the Turkish government would effectively close the window for further legal appeals regarding his innocence.
