Shocking defense from couple who caused deaths with bootleg alcohol! 'We drank it too'

While the number of people who have died from bootleg alcohol in Istanbul has risen to 37, 27 others remain in critical condition. The couple, who were arrested for allegedly causing the deaths of at least 10 people by selling bootleg alcohol at the Turkmen restaurant they owned, defended themselves with the words 'we drank it too'. The arrested suspect, Agazhan Ovezov, stated in his defense, "I drank this alcohol myself one day before I was caught. I mix this alcohol with energy drinks when I drink it. If the deaths that occurred were due to the alcohol I sold, I would have died too. For this reason, I do not accept the accusations."

THEY CAUSED THE DEATHS OF AT LEAST 10 PEOPLE

Turkmenistan nationals Agazhan Ovezov and Amangul Dovranova, who were detained as part of the investigation launched by the Küçükçekmece Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and were responsible for the deaths of 10 people, were arrested and sent to prison. It was revealed that the couple had been selling the bootleg alcohol, which they were learned to have purchased in plastic bottles from a liquor store in Fatih, at the bakery they had been operating in Başakşehir since 2022.

"I WOULD HAVE DIED TOO"

According to a report by Sabah, Agazhan Ovezov explained the following in his statement, saying, 'I drank it too one day before' regarding the alcohol that caused the deaths:

"I am a citizen of Turkmenistan. I have been selling illegal alcohol at this bakery for about 6 months. I buy the alcohol from an individual who runs a liquor store in Kumkapı. As my supply of alcohol runs out, I go to buy more about every ten days. Most recently, three or four days ago, I bought about 20 half-liter bottles of liquor from this person. Every time I go, I buy 10-20 bottles and bring them back. I do not know any of the victims. I sell this alcohol to two individuals who live in my apartment building and on the street behind me. I did not sell it to anyone else. I drank this alcohol myself one day before I was caught. I don't remember when my wife drank it. I mix this alcohol with energy drinks when I drink it. If the deaths that occurred were due to the alcohol I sold, I would have died too. For this reason, I do not accept the accusations."

"THERE HAD BEEN NO SUCH SITUATION UNTIL NOW"

The arrested Amangul Dovranova also stated that her husband brought alcohol in plastic bottles from a place she did not know, and that they drank these beverages themselves.

While it is alleged that the couple bought the bootleg alcohol from a market in Fatih for 50 to 80 liras per liter and sold it after putting it into bottles, it is claimed that they said in their statements, "We did not manufacture the alcohol; we bought it ready-made from Fatih. We gave it to our customers at our workplace. There had been no such situation until now." Investigations determined that 10 people who purchased bootleg alcohol from the Turkmen restaurant lost their lives.

News Source: 12punto