14.04.2026 00:33
In the Konak district of Izmir, the detained suspects in the death of 1-year-old Altay Toprak Kınalı, following a pesticide application in an apartment, appeared before the judge. The suspects are Bülent Öz, an agricultural engineer and owner of the pest control company, and Eyüp Gödelezli, who assisted in the application. The panel decided to release Eyüp Gödelezli under judicial control conditions.
The trial of two suspects has begun regarding the death of 1-year-old Altay Toprak Kınalı and the poisoning of 5 people in an apartment building in Izmir where pest control was carried out. Eyüp Gödelezli, one of the suspects who assisted in the fumigation, was released under judicial control conditions.
1-YEAR-OLD TOPRAK LOST HIS LIFE AFTER FUMIGATION The incident occurred on November 11, 2024, in an apartment building on 1413 Street, Kahramanlar Neighborhood, Konak district. The family living on the top floor of the 4-story building had fumigation done in their apartment. All building residents fell ill after the fumigation. Upon notification, AFAD Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) experts, along with fire department and medical teams, were dispatched to the address.
1-year-old Altay Toprak Kınalı living on the 3rd floor, his mother Raziye Kınalı, father Recep Kınalı, and building residents university student Gizem Umay and Yurdaer Çelikörs were hospitalized. Altay Toprak Kınalı, whose heart stopped 5 times and was restarted, lost his life 3 days later. The Kınalı couple, Gizem Umay, and Yurdaer Çelikörs were discharged after their treatments. Baby Altay was laid to rest in Pınarbaşı Cemetery after his autopsy.
FIRST ARREST, THEN RELEASE Within the scope of the investigation into the incident, 3 people were detained by police teams. Bülent Öz, the agricultural engineer owner of the cleaning and fumigation company, and Eyüp Gödelezli, who assisted in the fumigation, were arrested by the court they were brought before, while Ethem Gödelezli, who was determined to have mediated the job, was released under judicial control conditions. Some time later, Öz and Eyüp Gödelezli were also released under judicial control. Within the scope of the investigation conducted by the Izmir Republic Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the examination by AFAD teams determined that the substances used in fumigating the building were agricultural pesticides that should not be used in residential areas. It was determined that the fumigation in the home used agricultural pesticides named 'Kingphos' and 'Grainphos', which are harmful to human health.
THEY WERE ARRESTED AGAIN The report prepared by the Ministry of Justice Forensic Medicine Institute 1st Forensic Medicine Specialization Board stated that the baby's death occurred due to poisoning related to the pesticide applied for bugs in the building. The Ministry of Justice 5th Forensic Medicine Specialization Board prepared a report stating that Toprak lost his life as a result of exposure to chemical phosphine gas. The Izmir Republic Chief Public Prosecutor's Office issued a re-detention order for agricultural engineer Bülent Öz, the owner of the company that performed the fumigation, and Eyüp Gödelezli, who assisted in the fumigation, both of whom had been previously arrested and then released under judicial control conditions. The detained suspects were arrested by the court they were brought before. The indictment stated that, as a result of examinations conducted by AFAD personnel, gas measurements showed gas levels were much higher than they should be.
"PESTICIDE SUITABLE FOR HUMAN LIVING SPACE WAS NOT SELECTED" The expert report in the indictment stated that work was not carried out systematically in the apartment and building where fumigation was performed, a pesticide-fumigant suitable for human living space was not selected, and fumigation-pesticide application steps were not followed. It was also stated that a meeting was not held with the building residents to explain the seriousness of the job, fumigation was carried out without fully evacuating people from the building, without providing necessary isolation to prevent gas leakage to other apartments in the area to be fumigated, and without taking necessary precautions in other apartments in the building. It was emphasized that during and after fumigation, without conducting toxic gas measurements and controls in the building, some residents in the building continued their lives, some returned to the building before the waiting period expired without knowledge of gas levels, and as a result, the tragic incident occurred. For the suspects, separate life sentences were requested for the crime of 'Intentional killing using chemical weapons', and up to 20 years imprisonment each for the crime of 'Intentional injury with a weapon' regarding the poisoning of 5 people. The indictment was accepted by the Izmir 1st High Criminal Court.
"BÜLENT BEY PERFORMED THE APPLICATION" The trial of the suspects began today at the Izmir 1st High Criminal Court. The hearing was attended by the detained suspects, as well as baby Altay's family, the complainants, and lawyers. The hearing started with identity verification and reading of the indictment. The first word in the session was given to detained suspect Eyüp Gödelezli. Gödelezli, who argued that he did not perform fumigation on the day of the incident and only went to help, said, "I do not have the knowledge to perform fumigation. I do not know the effect of the pesticide, its harm, what precautions to take. I went to help, we went to the address together from Mr. Bülent's workplace. He said let's meet with the apartment residents and inform them. We asked Mrs. Semra, who had the fumigation done, whether the people in the building were informed. She said they were informed, and two apartments were not home. Upon this, Mr. Bülent stated that if they are not home, he cannot perform the application. Mr. Bülent said Mr. Recep, who was not in the apartment, should be called and come if available. Mr. Recep said he was not available and would send his brother Şaban. Mr. Bülent told Mr. Şaban that under no circumstances should anyone enter the apartment for 72 hours after fumigation. Mr. Şaban opened the apartment door, Mr. Bülent did the bathroom isolation. Afterwards, Mr. Şaban called Mr. Recep and told him that no one should enter for 3 days after fumigation. Mr. Bülent performed the application. I was not involved in the fumigation. Both my family and I have been victimized."
"IF I KNEW THEY WOULD STAY HOME, I WOULDN'T HAVE DONE THE FUMIGATION" Detained suspect Bülent Öz, who made a defense in the session, argued that the pesticide in question is frequently used in public and private sectors, saying, "Despite taking necessary measures and precautions, the incident that occurred has saddened me greatly. The Ministry of Agriculture has given me permission to use this substance and authority regarding its application. This pesticide is not a chemical weapon."
The suspect Öz, also describing the day of the incident, said, "We said the entire building needed to be evacuated. I explained to them that fumigation would not be done without necessary precautions. Mr. Recep's older brother Mr. Şaban came. I explained the risk of the situation to him. Then I entered the apartment and insulated the bathroom window to prevent leakage. I told them to leave a few windows open, but they closed them because it was going to rain. They told me definitely no one would enter the house. We put warning signs on the apartment doors. Later, I learned that despite Mr. Recep's knowledge, he stayed home, and the next day brought his wife and child. If I had known they would stay home, I definitely would not have performed this application. No one informed me about this."
"I BECAME AS IF IN A VEGETATIVE STATE" Recep Kınalı, the father of Altay Toprak, who was given the floor at the hearing, said he filed a complaint against the suspects. Kınalı said, "We were not informed that agricultural pesticide was used. My brother told me on the phone that no one should enter the house for one or two days."
I stayed at home but sent my wife and son to my brother. If I had known it was an agricultural pesticide, I would have reported the situation to 112. There was no warning in the apartment. On the day of the incident, I began to lose feeling in my body. It was as if I had entered a vegetative state. When my wife said the same thing, I called my brother and he sent my sister-in-law. When my sister-in-law arrived, she took my son and went to the hospital. When I vomited, I came to my senses and was later taken to the hospital by ambulance. No one informed us. That's why we didn't open the windows either. That day, a murder was going to happen in that building," she said. The mother of the soil baby, Raziye Kınalı, also stated that she would complain about the defendants until the end.
RELEASE UNDER JUDICIAL CONTROL After the defenses and statements, the prosecution presenting its opinion requested the continuation of the defendants' detention. The defendants and their lawyers, who were given the floor regarding the opinion, requested release. The panel decided to release defendant Eyüp Gödezeli under judicial control, ruled for the continuation of the other defendant's detention, ordered the deficiencies to be remedied and the unheard witnesses to be heard, and adjourned the hearing to June 18.