Prosecutor announces opinion in İzmir electrocution tragedy: Sentences determined

In İzmir, streets in many districts were flooded due to a downpour that began around 18:00 on July 12, 2024. Özge Ceren Deniz, a student at the İzmir Democracy University Faculty of Medicine who was trying to take shelter from the downpour, was electrocuted on a flooded road.

İnanç Öktemay, who worked in second-hand goods sales and tried to save her, was also electrocuted and collapsed instantly. Deniz and Öktemay lost their lives at the hospital where they were taken. İnanç Öktemay was laid to rest in İzmir, and Özge Ceren Deniz in Osmaniye.

In the trial continuing at the İzmir 10th High Criminal Court, the family of İnanç Öktemay withdrew from the case. The 7th hearing of the case, in which 9 defendants are in custody, was held today at the İzmir 10th High Criminal Court.

In addition to the detained and non-detained defendants, Özge Ceren's father, Ahmet Abi, and lawyers attended the hearing. The hearing began after identity verification. Given the floor during the hearing, Ahmet Abi said, "The decision you make here will be a turning point not only for my child but for all our youth. It will be a precedent-setting decision. I want those who caused this negligence to receive the punishment they deserve. May no one die while walking on the street. I believe a sentence that will soothe the public conscience will be given." The prosecutor reiterated the final opinion they had submitted at the previous hearing.

"I AM NOT GUILTY"

Following Abi, the floor was given to the detained defendants. Detained defendant Mehmet Zeki Aytulun, an İZSU technical supervisor who requested acquittal, said, "I have been in prison for 454 days and every day I ask myself where I fit into this incident. If I am guilty, give me the heaviest sentence, but I am not guilty."

Detained defendant Arif Kapuş also stated, "There are managers and employers like me in this case. They are currently being tried without detention. I am not going to flee. I knew my name was given to the prosecutor's office by İZSU when the accident happened, and I was waiting to be taken into custody. I surrendered of my own free will. It is extremely thought-provoking that there are names in this case who have steered the course of the trial with forged documents and are being tried without detention. I request my release and acquittal."

Detained defendant Fırat Akbay, a Gediz fault repair personnel, argued that he did not do anything wrong. Akbay said, "I reported the fault I saw and did what was necessary. If I encountered the same fault today, I would do the same thing again. I know that what I did was correct and not incomplete. My conscience is clear. If it were tomorrow, I would do the same thing again, and I am proud of what I did." In the hearing where other detained defendants also argued they were innocent and requested acquittal, the prosecutor presented their opinion.

In the trial regarding the incident in İzmir where two people lost their lives due to electrocution, prison sentences ranging from 4 years and 2 months to 10 years were requested for 30 defendants, and acquittal was requested for 9 defendants.

News Source: 12punto