The family of Öktemay, one of the two people who died after being swept away by the current in the street, has withdrawn their complaint.

24.03.2025 17:51

In the tragic incident that occurred in Izmir on July 12, 2024, İnanç Öktemay and Özge Ceren Deniz lost their lives after being electrocuted while walking on the street. In the case where 42 defendants are being tried, 11 of whom are in custody, Öktemay's family has withdrawn their complaint. The family's lawyer stated, "This process has deeply saddened and exhausted our clients. They hold no grudges against anyone, and they will not."

During the downpour in İzmir, İnanç Öktemay (44) and Özge Ceren Deniz (23) were electrocuted while walking on the street, leading to their deaths. In the case where 11 of the 42 defendants are in custody, Öktemay's family has withdrawn their complaint.

In İzmir, streets were flooded due to the downpour that started around 18:00 on July 12, 2024. Özge Ceren Deniz, a student at İzmir Democracy University Faculty of Medicine, was electrocuted while trying to avoid the floodwaters. İnanç Öktemay, who was trying to save her and worked in second-hand goods sales, was also electrocuted and collapsed suddenly. Both Deniz and Öktemay lost their lives in the hospital they were taken to. İnanç Öktemay was buried in İzmir, while Özge Ceren Deniz was buried in Osmaniye.

14 PEOPLE ARRESTED

Of the 30 people initially detained as part of the investigation, 14 were arrested. It was reported that one of the two suspects who were subject to arrest was undergoing cancer treatment, and one suspect was abroad. Among the arrested suspects, Zekeriya T. was later released under judicial control. With the expansion of the investigation, arrest warrants were issued for 11 more individuals. On July 26, upon the instruction of the prosecutor's office, former İZSU General Manager Ali Hıdır Köseoğlu, İZSU General Manager Gürkan Erdoğan, İZSU Deputy General Manager Serdar Sadi, General Manager of Distribution at Gediz Electricity Uğur Yüksel, Metropolitan Regional Manager Ali Arcan, System Operation and Maintenance Manager Ekrem Yıldırım, Operations Director Sefa Pişkinleblebici, Planning and Technology Director Necati Ergin, Field Responsible for Construction Works Mürsel Arıcı, Construction Works Responsible Expert Alper Doğan, and Gediz Electricity staff Halit Özpelit were detained. All 11 suspects were released under judicial control.

"NO PERSONAL FAULT"

In the report prepared by a five-member expert committee, it was determined that Deniz and Öktemay had no personal fault in the occurrence of the incident. The report assessed that the incident was foreseeable and preventable, and there was no element of inevitability. Accordingly, it was concluded that there was no extraordinary natural event that could not be foreseen or prevented in the occurrence of the incident. It was determined that a series of negligence and technical faults, along with chain fault elements developing outside of Deniz and Öktemay, caused the incident. The expert report indicated that neither of the two institutions had taken protective and preventive measures at the site where the incident occurred.

UP TO 22.5 YEARS IN PRISON SOUGHT

In the indictment prepared after the investigation, it was requested that 13 individuals, including İZSU General Manager Gürkan Erdoğan, İZSU Deputy General Manager Serdar Sadi, former İZSU General Manager Ali Hıdır Köseoğlu, Gediz Electricity General Manager Uğur Yüksel, Gediz Electricity Distribution A.Ş. Metropolitan Regional Manager Ali Arcan, Gediz Electricity Distribution System Operation and Maintenance Manager Ekrem Yıldırım, and Construction Works Responsible Expert Alper Doğan, be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison for 'manslaughter by negligence.' Due to the conscious negligence in committing the crime, it was requested that the sentences for the defendants be increased by half according to Article 22/3 of the Turkish Penal Code, raising it to 22.5 years.

EXAMINATION CONDUCTED

During the second hearing held at the İzmir 10th High Criminal Court, it was decided to merge the files of detained defendants Ömer Karabilgin and Barış Koç due to their status as civil servants and to release them. Additionally, it was decided to separate the files of the non-detained defendants Ali Hıdır Köseoğlu, Serdar Sadi, Gürkan Erdoğan, and Ezgi Nazaroğlu for permission to be obtained due to their status as civil servants, and to continue their investigations after obtaining permission, lifting the judicial control conditions. Thus, 11 detained defendants remained in the case. Following the court's decision, an examination was conducted at the scene of the incident where İnanç Öktemay and Özge Ceren Deniz lost their lives on December 9. After the examination, it was decided to prepare an expert report.

REPORT REACHED IN THE MORNING

The trial of the defendants continued today at the İzmir 10th High Criminal Court. The hearing was attended by Özge Ceren Deniz's father Ahmet Abi, the detained defendants, as well as some non-detained defendants and the lawyers of the parties. Due to the courtroom being full, many spectators were left outside. The hearing began with a roll call of the defendants. The presiding judge stated that the requested expert report had reached them this morning.

ÖKTEMAY'S FAMILY WITHDREW FROM THE CASE

Meanwhile, it was learned that İnanç Öktemay's family withdrew from the case before the hearing. In the petition submitted by the family's lawyer, it was stated, "Öktemay's relatives have faced unimaginable pains over the 8-month process. Subsequently, a judicial process has begun to identify the culpable parties, and the trial is ongoing in this honorable court. The sensitivity and awareness shown by the court in this unfortunate incident have somewhat alleviated the pain of our clients. İnanç Öktemay has passed away and will unfortunately never return. Our clients are trying to learn to live with this pain. This process has deeply saddened and exhausted our clients. They have not harbored any resentment towards anyone, nor will they. This 'tragic event' has been a heavy test for everyone. Determining who is at fault is certainly the duty of this honorable court," it was stated.

"WE ARE WITHDRAWING OUR COMPLAINT AGAINST THE DEFENDANTS"

The petition continued with the following statements:

"The heartfelt thoughts of our clients are that no one should be tested with such a great pain. Since the unfortunate event, we are grateful to the GDZ management and supporting employees who have been with us, showing sensitivity in the hearings and defenses to prevent our pain from being exacerbated, and who have done their part in the field of compensation law to avoid prolonging the legal process. We also want to mention that Argan Engineering has contributed to the compensation. Based on all that has been conveyed, we have decided to withdraw from the trial process as the relatives of the deceased Öktemay, who tried to help the other deceased Ceren, as a party that acted with kindness, in a manner befitting Öktemay. Therefore, we waive our request to participate in the case in accordance with Article 243 of the CMK and withdraw our complaint against the defendants."