29.03.2025 12:50
On June 6th of last year, in Ankara, 22-year-old Ayşe Yavuz lost her life after being trapped under a fallen advertising board during a severe windstorm. The company's official, Semih Esat Ünlü, was arrested at the first hearing on charges of "causing death by conscious negligence." However, Ünlü was released on the 15th day of his detention. Following the decision, the young girl's mother expressed her outrage.
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On June 6 last year, a heavy rain and strong wind in Sincan caused an advertising board belonging to the Sincan Municipality to topple from its base and fall on a bus stop. Ayşe Yavuz, who was a secretary at the company and was waiting for the bus at the stop after sports on her way home, was trapped under the board and the stop, resulting in her death.
COMPANY OFFICIAL ARRESTED As part of the investigation conducted by the Ankara West Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, a lawsuit was filed against Semih Esat Ünsal, the official of the company that manufactured and installed the advertising board, for the crime of 'causing death by conscious negligence', with a prison sentence of up to 12 years requested. The defendant's trial began on January 30 at the Ankara Criminal Court of First Instance. In the first hearing, it was determined by an expert report that the defendant Ünsal had made the foundation 1.35 meters deep instead of 4.5 meters and poured 5.40 cubic meters of concrete instead of 18 cubic meters. The court decided to arrest Ünsal, who was sent to prison.
REACTION TO RELEASE In the second hearing held the other day, the defendant did not attend, while Ayşe Yavuz's family and their lawyers were present. It was revealed that the defendant was released 15 days after his arrest due to an appeal made by his lawyer to the higher court. The hearing was postponed to address deficiencies. Ayşe Yavuz's sister, Gülser Aydın, reacted to the release decision, saying, "For 10 months, we have been going to her grave, taking care of the flowers on it to comfort ourselves. We hope that Ayşe hears us as the windmill turns. Ten months have passed this way. The defendant had already stated in the first hearing that the entire fault belonged to the Sincan Municipality, and that all responsibility and oversight belonged to the municipality. He had said that they were the ones at the head of the whole job. Despite saying this so many times, nothing was done. Our lawyers worked hard to obtain an investigation permit from the governorship. They constantly submitted petitions; but we were continuously rejected. Later, our last rejection came after the release. We then took this to the higher court and applied to the administrative judiciary for an investigation permit. It has been 10 months, and none of them have yet given statements in front of justice, in front of us. Irregularities were made to avoid using materials, to avoid the foundation, and my sister paid the price for this," she said.
"I WANT JUSTICE TO BE SERVED" Ayşe Yavuz's mother, Nafize Yavuz, also said, "Ayşe was working, she had many dreams, she got her driver's license, and was saving money to buy a car. During Ramadan, she would say, 'You all sleep, I will get up and prepare food for you.' She never hurt anyone. She never turned anyone away. I miss her so much; I go into her room every day and look at her pictures with her head down. My president, please hear my voice, a mother is crying out. A dog is killed and arrested, a cat is killed and arrested, is my daughter not worth as much as a cat? My heart is breaking. The longing grows stronger. The house is so empty. There is no sound at all. The holiday has come. She didn't like the stuffed grape leaves I made. She was my right hand. My only wish is that no other mothers suffer. No other Ayşes should leave. I want justice to be served," she said.
"THE MUNICIPALITY IS GUILTY, THE COMPANY IS GUILTY" Father Mustafa Yavuz stated that no investigation permit was granted against the municipality, saying, "The point that saddens us the most is that we could not file a lawsuit against the municipality. We want the municipality to come to court as well. The board was already very large, as stated in the expert report. The depth was supposed to be 4.5 meters, but it was not done. Concrete was poured insufficiently. Both the municipality and the company are guilty. They are blaming each other. Why didn't they check? We are complaining about both the company and the municipality. We are pursuing our case. We will go to the end," he said.
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