The shocking defense in the electricity scandal in which 2 people died in Izmir: The job I did was perfect.

In the first hearing of the trial regarding the deaths of 2 people who were electrocuted while trying to protect themselves from heavy rain in Konak district of Izmir, the defendants, who are the managers of Gdz Electricity Distribution and Izmir Water and Sewerage Administration (IZSU), denied responsibility for the incident and blamed each other.

42 defendants, including 13 who are in custody, who are charged with "causing the death of multiple people by conscious negligence", appeared before the Izmir 10th Heavy Penal Court. Defendants, including Gdz Electricity Distribution General Manager Uğur Yüksel and IZSU General Manager Gürkan Erdoğan, who are being tried without detention, were present in the courtroom. Former general manager of IZSU, Ali Hıdır Köseoğlu, attended the hearing via Audio and Visual Information System (SEGBIS).

MINISTER FROM NORTHERN CYPRUS ALSO ATTENDED THE HEARING

Erhan Arıklı, the Minister of Public Works and Transportation of Northern Cyprus, Erkut Şahali, a member of parliament from Gazimağusa, and Ayşen Volkan İnanıroğlu, the Consul General of Northern Cyprus in Izmir, also attended the hearing due to Özge Ceren Deniz, who lost her life in the incident, being a citizen of Northern Cyprus. The hearing was represented by Izmir Deputy Chief Public Prosecutor Necati Kayaközü. After the presiding judge presented the indictment and the charges, he gave the defendants the floor.

"I AM ACCUSED OF BUILDING A FACILITY THAT HAS BEEN OPERATING SMOOTHLY FOR 9 YEARS"

A.K, the detained defendant and the Fault Repair Manager of Gdz Electricity, expressed his deep sorrow for the tragic incident and said, "I offer my condolences to those who lost their lives. One pain cannot be alleviated with another pain. I was very surprised when I read the indictment. I am accused of building a facility that has been operating smoothly for 9 years. The problem is external factors. The cable depth is as it should be. I am in the administrative part. I am detained because of things that I think are not my responsibility. I do not accept the accusation."

"I AM INNOCENT, I DEMAND MY RELEASE AND ACQUITTAL"

A.K, the detained defendant and the owner of the company that won the tender opened by IZSU and undertook the construction of the grates at the scene of the incident, stated that he worked with an expert team and denied the allegations of not using appropriate materials, saying, "I gave the instruction to change the grate upon the order of the administration. At that time, I had 2 other jobs that I received from IZSU. I was not in the field. The grate replacement has been done. During my detention, I saw in the videos brought by my lawyers that the work I did was perfect. I am innocent, and I demand my release and acquittal."

"THERE WERE CONSTANT ELECTRIC LEAKS IN THE AREA"

At this point, a defense lawyer showed the protective tube for electrical cables that he brought with him and asked questions to the defendant Kapuş. B.K, the detained defendant and the Head of Sewerage Department at IZSU, claimed that the expert report was prepared hastily and was incorrect, saying, "The shopkeepers reported the exposed cables to Gdz Electricity. There was no notification to IZSU regarding this problem. It is a chronic problem. They said that there were incidents even without the grates. Are the officials of Gdz Electricity at ease? Our citizens lost their lives due to electric shock, not drowning. There is no reason for us to be detained."

During the hearing, the defendants and their lawyers, who are the managers of Gdz Electricity and IZSU, made mutual accusations, and there were occasional tensions. The presiding judge adjourned the hearing for 1 hour.