Detergent-in-coffee case closed for a settlement: Expert report deems it 'faultless'

On November 17, 2025, 26-year-old engineer Ayben Ö.T., who was reportedly a newlywed, drank a Turkish coffee at a café named Runner Up located in the Ömer Avni neighborhood of Istanbul's Beyoğlu district during her lunch break.

Shortly after drinking the coffee, the young woman fell ill and sought medical attention at Taksim Training and Research Hospital on suspicion of poisoning. It is alleged that she was kept waiting for hours there on the grounds that there was "no endoscopy capability." It was learned that Ayben Ö.T., for whom an ambulance was reportedly not provided, had to go to Şişli Training and Research Hospital by her own means.

CAUSTIC SUBSTANCE DETECTED IN HER BLOOD

It was reported that the young woman, who was taken into intensive care at Şişli Training and Research Hospital, was intubated after her condition worsened. Examinations revealed that Ayben Ö.T.'s blood contained a high amount of sodium hydroxide, a caustic substance.

Doctors' examinations determined that the young woman suffered severe burns in her throat, esophagus, windpipe, stomach, and lungs.

It was stated that the coffee sample, which was considered important for clarifying the incident, was brought to the hospital but was discarded by hospital staff, and therefore could not be sent to the laboratory.

REVEALED THAT THE COFFEE WAS PREPARED WITH DETERGENT

Following the incident, an inspection was carried out at the café as part of the investigation initiated by the Beyoğlu Public Security Bureau teams. The investigation revealed that Engin Ö., the father of the individuals responsible for the business, had placed dish detergent into some bottles used in the kitchen.

It was determined that the employee who prepared the coffee, Münire A., had accidentally used water from the bottle containing detergent while preparing the coffee.

As part of the investigation, business owner Gülsüm Sude Ö., employee Sıla Nur Ö., and the person who prepared the coffee, Münire A., were detained. Beyoğlu Municipality police teams sealed the café.

A judicial control decision in the form of "house arrest" and a "ban on traveling abroad" was issued for Münire A. and Sıla Nur Ö., who were referred to the courthouse. The statements of father Engin Ö. and business owner Gülsüm Sude Ö. were also taken.

SUSPECTS' STATEMENTS ENTERED THE FILE

Münire A., who prepared the coffee, explained in her statement that the workplace was busy and the incident occurred during that time. Münire A. said she took water from a bottle in the kitchen, that there was no label on the bottle, and that its color was indistinguishable from water.

Münire A. stated that after the customer fell ill, she put the coffee in a paper cup and gave it to her friends, and only later, when she checked the bottles, did she realize they contained detergent.

Business owner Sıla Nur Ö. stated in her testimony that she told them to put the coffee from the machine into the cup and add water, and that she pointed to the water purifier for the water. She claimed that she called an ambulance after Ayben Ö.T. fell ill, but hung up the phone after her friends said they would take her to the hospital themselves.

1.5 MILLION LIRA SETTLEMENT DECISION

A new development occurred on March 5, 2025, in the investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. The prosecutor's office determined that the crime attributed to the suspects was subject to "settlement."

As a result of the negotiations, it was reported that the suspects Engin Ö., Gülsüm Sude Ö., and Sıla Nur Ö. paid a total of 1 million 500 thousand Turkish Lira to the victim's side and that the parties reached a settlement in exchange for this amount.

EXPERT REPORT: "DOES NOT CONSTITUTE FAULT"

The expert report included in the investigation file stated that Münire A., who prepared the coffee, did not know in advance the contents of the unlabeled liquid in the kitchen that could be confused with drinking water.

The report stated that the unintentional use of the substance in question did not constitute a fault. In line with this assessment, it was decided that there was no ground for public prosecution against all suspects. 

News Source: 12punto