Cork engineer detained

A CORK engineer based in Kazakhstan is among a number of workers who have been taken from their residences and driven to a hotel where they are being detained.

Peter Hopkins has been working in the former Soviet Bloc country since the end of February on behalf of Clonmel-based Kentz Caspian.

On Wednesday, the 39-year-old Ballymacoda native and a number of other workers were put onto a bus and driven for six hours to a hotel where they have remained since.

Initially he was unable to establish who he was being detained by and for what reason. It is now believed the people holding him are Kazakhstani security forces.

Mr Hopkins’ sister, Gemma McSweeney, said she had managed to make contact with her brother and he told her that while his captors had demanded the passports of all those being detained, he had managed to keep his passport with him.

She said no one had given any reason for his detention, but he suspected it may be something to do with visas, even though his documentation allows him to work for a full year.

Ms McSweeney said a number of the others have been brought to court and she expected him to be appearing in court today.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said it was aware of Mr Hopkins’ case.