18.12.2025 11:36
In the indictment prepared regarding the perfume factory fire in the Dilovası district of Kocaeli, which resulted in the deaths of 7 people, plans for the abduction of the suspects were included. It is alleged that suspect Ali Osman A. told the person hiding the company owners, "They shouldn't worry, they should be at ease. We will get them across safely. In the worst-case scenario, we will involve their lawyer, and their fathers will take the blame."
A major explosion occurred on November 8 at the Ravive Cosmetics factory located in the Mimar Sinan neighborhood of Dilovası. In the fire that broke out after the explosion, Hanım Gülek (65), Esma Dikan (65), Şengül Yılmaz (55), Tuncay Yıldız (48), Tuğba Taşdemir (18), Nisa Taşdemir (17), and Cansu Esatoğlu (16) lost their lives.
6 PEOPLE ARRESTED
Among the 11 suspects detained as part of the investigation, company owner Kurtuluş Oransal, company officials İsmail Oransal, Altay Ali Oransal, Aleyna Oransal, and Gökberk Güngör were arrested on charges of "manslaughter with probable intent," while Ali Osman A. and Onay Y. were arrested on charges of "aiding a criminal." Suspects H. E., G. B., Ö. A., and Güven Demirbaş were released under judicial control.
KURTULUŞ ORANSAL DIED IN PRISON
Kurtuluş Oransal, the company owner who was arrested during the investigation, died of a heart attack in prison. Following the incident, officials from SGK and İŞKUR, who were deemed negligent, were suspended.
91-PAGE INDICTMENT
In the 91-page indictment prepared by the Gebze Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, İsmail Oransal, Altay Ali Oransal, Aleyna Oransal, and Gökberk Güngör were each charged with "manslaughter with probable intent" and faced life sentences, while they also faced 3 counts of "causing damage to property" with prison sentences ranging from 6 months to 4 years.
For 8 defendants, the indictment requested sentences of up to 22 years and 6 months for "causing death and injury by conscious negligence," and for 4 defendants, up to 5 years for "aiding a criminal." Additionally, charges were requested against Ümit Ç., Ünal A., Muhammet D., Seyfullah Ç., Güven D., Caner Özgür Y., Özcan Y., and Özkan Y. for "causing death and injury by conscious negligence," while Ali Osman A., Onay Y., Ömer A., and Abdurrahman B. were also requested to be prosecuted for "aiding a criminal."
"THEY SENT HOME THOSE WITHOUT INSURANCE DURING INSPECTIONS"
Among the workers whose statements were included in the indictment, Keriman Miskin stated that he had not received any training at the workplace where he had worked for 4 years and that no protective clothing was provided, saying, "There was no official responsible in the establishment. An insurance inspection was conducted only once. During this inspection, the owner Kurtuluş Oransal told that only those with insurance should stay, sending all uninsured workers like me home. Our salaries were paid in cash."
Injured worker Ayten Aras said that Nisa Taşdemir and Esma Dikan, who died in the explosion, were filling creams. Aras stated, "We were not given protective clothing; we were working in the clothes we came from home. Kurtuluş Oransal promised insurance for 4 years but did not provide it. We were working for a daily wage of 800 TL."
16-year-old Z. H., who was present at the facility on the day of the incident, said, "On the day of the incident, a perfume mixture was being made in the tank located in the middle of the workplace on the second floor. There was a device that mixed chemical substances. While we were closing the perfume box, an explosion suddenly occurred."
GRIEVING FAMILIES: WE WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE BODIES THROUGH DNA TESTING
The statements of families who lost their children and spouses in the fire were heartbreaking. Vedat Taşdemir, who lost his 17-year-old daughter Nisa, said, "My daughter started as a packaging personnel, but I learned that she was also working in production. If I had known that production was taking place, I would never have sent my daughter. We learned of my daughter's death through DNA samples taken from my son."
Aytekin Gikan, who lost his wife, stated that he learned there were bodies inside after the fire was extinguished, that he called hospitals but could not find his wife, and later realized she had passed away. Metin Gülek, the husband of Hanım Gülek, and İbrahim Esatoğlu, the father of Cansu Esatoğlu, also expressed that they could only identify the lifeless bodies of their relatives through DNA matches conducted at the Istanbul Forensic Medicine Institute.
"WE KNEW THEY WERE EVEN EMPLOYING PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS"
Witness I. A. stated that as locals, they complained about the chemical smell emanating from the workplace, saying, "They were employing underage children and women in need of money without insurance. We knew they were even employing primary school students. Despite complaints to the necessary institutions, we could not understand how they were producing."
"KURTULUŞ ORANSAL TOLD ME, 'I KNOW ABOUT THE FIRE, I AM ON MY WAY'"
Workplace employee H. E. stated in his testimony that after the incident, he called Kurtuluş Oransal to inform him about the fire, asking where he was and telling him he needed to come urgently. Oransal replied, "I know," and said he was on his way. After the conversation ended, about 5-10 minutes later, Kurtuluş Oransal called him back to ask if anyone was left inside, stating that he did not know the exact number but said at least three people were still inside.
"ONLY 8 PERSONNEL WERE REPORTED TO THE INSTITUTION IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER 2025"
Financial advisor M. Ç. provided information about the establishment and operation process of the company. M. Ç. stated that the official owners of Ravive Cosmetics are İsmail and Altan Ali Oransal, and that father Kurtuluş Oransal had no authority on paper. M. Ç. mentioned that he knew Kurtuluş Oransal as a "master machinist" from the factory he worked at in Düzce in 2010, and explained that the insurance processes of the workers at the facility in Dilovası were communicated through unofficial methods. Witness M. Ç. stated, "I was making insurance entries based on the identity numbers of the workers that İsmail Oransal sent via WhatsApp or email. In August and September 2025, it was reported that only 8 personnel were working at the institution."
M. Ç. noted that the factory had not received occupational health and safety services since it started operations in Dilovası, stating, "Under normal circumstances, the employer is required to make regular payments to the OHS company they have contracted, but I have not received any service invoice from this company."
"Since the date the factory opened and started production, I have not received any notification or invoice regarding occupational health and safety," he stated.
"THEY OPENED THIS BUSINESS TO KEEP THEIR FATHERS AWAY FROM THEM"
Kurtuluş Oransal's ex-wife A. A. made claims regarding the purpose of the company's establishment. A. A. alleged that Kurtuluş Oransal had a debt-ridden and irresponsible nature, explaining that they opened this business to keep their children's father away from them and to ensure he does not "end up on the streets." She mentioned that their children, İsmail and Altay, had no involvement or interest in the company's operations. A. A. stated that the personnel to be hired at the workplace where the explosion occurred were chosen by Kurtuluş Oransal himself, that he was the one managing the products produced at the workplace, and that Kurtuluş Oransal had established a network and created a market for himself due to his previous work in the cosmetics sector, asserting that the business operated entirely under Kurtuluş Oransal's control.
"I WILL DEAL WITH LAWYERS"
Suspect Gökberk Güngör, one of the partners of LYKKE Cosmetics, whose statement was included in the indictment, recounted the events of the day and how İsmail Oransal asked him to retrieve his computer. Güngör noted that Aleyna Oransal had a 50% stake in the company and mentioned that on the day of the incident, Aleyna called him and calmly said, "There has been a fire at the factory," ending the conversation. About half an hour after this call, İsmail Oransal called him, saying, "Can you bring me my laptop from my workplace? I will be dealing with these matters for a few days, I will be dealing with lawyers. Please take the laptop that is on my desk in my room and bring it to my home." Güngör reported that he retrieved the laptop and delivered it to Oransal upon this request.
"THEY WILL TAKE THE BLAME, WE WILL SMUGGLE THEM ABROAD"
One of the most striking parts of the indictment detailed the suspects' escape plan. Suspect Onay Y. stated that Ali Osman A. called him, saying, "Did you hear what happened? My nephews have been involved in an incident," and asked if he could host them.
Following this conversation, Y. explained that he called a person named Ömer A. to arrange a week's accommodation, and later met with İsmail Oransal, Altay Ali Oransal, and Abdurrahman Bayat in Tekirdağ. After entering the house, Y. expressed that he saw news titled "Explosion in Kocaeli" on the television and subsequently video-called Ali Osman A.
Y. claimed that during the conversation, Ali Osman A. told him:
"They shouldn't worry, they should be at ease. We will get them across safely. We have the financial means and power. In the worst-case scenario, we will involve lawyers, the blame will be taken by their fathers. Nothing will happen to them. Relay my conversations to my nephews."