21.07.2026 22:50
The third hearing of the case regarding the fire at a factory illegally filling perfume in Dilovası, which killed 7 workers including 3 children, was held. The detained Ali Osman Akat made scandalous statements in court, saying: "I am a businessman who has paid millions of lira in taxes to my state. Inspections were carried out in my companies, and we did not receive even 100 lira in fines... Human life is important, but my primary concern is that I have fallen into a situation where I cannot pay my taxes."
The third hearing of the case regarding the fire at the Ravive Cosmetics Factory in Kocaeli Dilovası on November 8, 2025, where 7 workers, including 3 under the age of 18, lost their lives, continues.
The hearing, held by the Gebze 7th Heavy Penal Court at the Kandıra Prison Complex Courtroom, began around 11:15 AM with the court president reading the status of the documents requested for the case file. After the lunch break, the hearing continued with the statement of Mürsel Ünder, one of the lawyers for the families. Comparing the Dilovası Disaster to Marquez's novel Chronicle of a Death Foretold, Ünder said, "In Chronicle of a Death Foretold, a murder was committed. Those who wanted to prevent the murder had no power or authority, and those with power and authority had no interest. The Dilovası disaster is just like Chronicle of a Death Foretold. People complained to CİMER, told the neighborhood head, but nothing was done."
"YOU ARE IGNORING THE EVIDENCE"
In his statement, Ünder criticized the manner in which the court panel handled the case, saying, "You are ignoring the evidence and limiting the proceedings. We often see these days that even a single search record can be considered evidence. We are showering you with evidence… After the families' Justice Watch began, watches took place in 14 cities. This shows how thirsty this society is for justice in work-related deaths. In such a pursuit of justice, you must make fair decisions and explain the fairness of those decisions."
Ünder, who objected to the release of Ünal Aslan, the responsible manager of Küresel OSGB, and Güven Demirbaş, the owner of the workshop, who are being tried for 'causing death by conscious negligence' in the case file, asked the court panel, "You say you are bound by the indictment. What changed in the indictment for you to release these individuals?"
"YOU ARE RELEASING A MAN WHO FULFILLED NONE OF HIS OBLIGATIONS"
Ünder continued:
"Ünal Aslan is responsible for occupational safety. He said 'The address was wrong, I couldn't find it, they didn't answer the phone.' There is a complaint to CİMER, a complaint to the neighborhood head. Ask anyone, you'll find the place. If all else fails, follow the chemical smell, you'll find it. To avoid losing a single customer, to get three months' pay without upsetting the bosses, you release a man who didn't fulfill any of his obligations. We don't understand you. Did you report to the necessary places, to the Ministry of Justice, regarding your duty of oversight? You did not. There is no legal justification for him not performing his duty for three months. If you had considered only Article 8/2 of the legislation, there is no such thing as 'I couldn't reach the employer,' honorable panel. You are not considering the law. Mr. Ünal is not in the courtroom. Our 'pasha' is not fit, he has an upper respiratory tract infection. We find this not to be a sufficient reason."
"IF THERE HAD BEEN VENTILATION, SOME MIGHT HAVE SURVIVED"
"All grounds for detention that apply to the other defendants also apply to Güven Demirbaş. Why was he released? Demirbaş literally built a building out of cardboard to collect rent. Production is done with flammable and explosive materials, there isn't a single window in the building. There is no ventilation. If these existed, some might have survived. Believe me, even if you were making bombs, it wouldn't be much different. Despite the building having a demolition order, it continued to be used, continued to be rented out without taking any precautions… You can't build a workplace in a residential area, but you rented this place as a workplace. He said the necessary work and costs were the tenant's responsibility. He can't provide any evidence for this. There's no such thing in the contract. But you were still convinced. If the tenant was supposed to do it, wasn't there even a warning letter you sent? He was putting your building at risk. But you are convinced by all this and release him.
A workplace is being built in a residential area. Public institutions do nothing. Now it has come before you, and you are doing nothing too. Child labor, uninsured workers are employed. None of this is discussed."
THE PROSECUTOR REQUESTED THE CONTINUATION OF DETENTIONS
Ünder requested the arrest of Demirbaş and Aslan. After Ünder's statement, the prosecutor read his opinion on detention, requesting the continuation of detention for the detained defendants and that the judicial control measures for the defendants under such measures remain the same.
After the opinion was read, the defendants and their lawyers were heard in response to the opinion on detention. Ali Osman Akat, objecting to the request for his continued detention, highlighted the economic difficulties he faced in his business life due to his arrest. Akat stated:
ALI OSMAN AKAT: I HAVE REACHED A POINT WHERE I CANNOT PAY TAXES, OUR CASH FLOW HAS DROPPED
"The thing I value most is the survival of my state. I am a businessman who has paid millions of lira in taxes to my state. Inspections were conducted at my companies, and we didn't even receive a fine of 100 lira… Human life is important, but my primary concern is that I have reached a point where I cannot pay taxes. Whatever I earned, I invested in my companies, provided employment. For employment, production is needed. We cannot produce; our cash flow has dropped. I cannot pay salaries; our suppliers are not providing goods. Because I cannot make payments, I am facing 177 lawsuits. I believe that with my skill and experience, if my detention ends, I can pay much more in taxes than I have. Every minute I remain detained is torture."
After Akat, the statements of other detained defendants and those under judicial control measures, along with their lawyers, were heard. The court adjourned the hearing until 20:30 to announce its interim decision.