02.11.2026 19:00
A verdict has been reached in the case concerning the death of Ali Bahar, former Chairman of the Antalya Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ATSO), who lost his life in Kemer in the summer of 2024 after being caught between the propellers of a boat. The defendant M.S.Ç., who was operating the boat, was sentenced to 1 year and 8 months in prison for 'causing death by negligence,' and the announcement of the verdict was deferred; the other defendant, Y.C.Ç., was acquitted. The Bahar family announced that they will exercise their legal rights against the verdict.
The then President of the Antalya Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ATSO), Ali Bahar, in the case concerning his death, defendant M.S.Ç. was sentenced to 1 year 8 months in prison for 'causing death by negligence'. While the court decided to defer the announcement of the judgment, the other defendant Y.C.Ç. was acquitted.
ATSO President Ali Bahar set out to sea from Kemer Marina on the evening of July 18, 2024, on his boat named 'Alber', accompanied by M.S.Ç. and Y.C.Ç. The three people, who spent the night at sea, set off in the morning to return to the marina. According to the allegation, Ali Bahar jumped into the water when a cushion used for sitting on the boat fell into the sea as they were approaching the marina. His friend M.S.Ç., who was operating the boat, made a maneuver without noticing the situation, and Ali Bahar, caught between the engine propellers, lost his life.
INDICTMENT PREPARED AGAINST TWO DEFENDANTS
Kemer Chief Public Prosecutor's Office prepared an indictment regarding Ali Bahar's death. In the indictment, which recorded that 2.55 promille of alcohol and the anesthetic drug lidocaine were found in Ali Bahar's body, M.S.Ç. and Y.C.Ç. were requested to be sentenced to between 2 and 6 years in prison each on the charge of 'causing death by negligence'. Kemer 4th Criminal Court of First Instance also ruled that the act 'may constitute the crime of intentional killing and because this crime falls within the jurisdiction of the Heavy Penal Court', issued a lack of jurisdiction decision and ordered the file to be sent to the Antalya Duty Heavy Penal Court.
WIFE: THE TWO DEFENDANTS MADE UP A STORY
The trial of the non-detained defendants M.S.Ç. and Y.C.Ç. on the charge of 'causing death by negligence' continued at the Antalya 3rd Heavy Penal Court. Defendant Y.C.Ç. connected to the hearing via SEGBİS from the Bodrum district of Muğla. Taking the floor at the hearing, Ali Bahar's wife Şebnem Bahar said, 'I am a sailor's daughter. I do not accept the expert report prepared. The report was not prepared in accordance with maritime rules. The report says Ali Bahar was at the rear of the boat. The leg cuts are parallel. There are various wounds on his body. The report says that the reversing propeller took Ali Bahar under the boat. This is contrary to the laws of physics. There is a contradiction. The wound marks and the way the propeller turned were presented incorrectly. My opinion is that the defendant passed over Ali and did not tell the truth. My dear husband Ali Bahar died in a terrible way. It fell to us to defend him in court. The two defendants made up a story. In many places, the two defendants had conversations like 'Don't sell me out, and I won't sell you out.' We heard these things.'
Ali Bahar's children Ladin and Tibet Bahar also objected to the report. Ladin Bahar said, 'There are inconsistencies in what both defendants say. I want the cause of my father's death to come out. This is the only thing a child wants.'
Defendant M.S.Ç., who requested his acquittal, said, 'In the statements I have used from the very beginning, I say that I clearly saw Ali. The other defendant also supports this. It is said that I maneuvered without seeing Ali Bey. I saw him clearly. The second issue is that the decision to reverse was taken together. The decision to reverse is a decision the captain makes. As the captain of the boat, Ali made this decision. I also took action. I carried out Ali Bahar's command. I did not know Ali was drunk. I could not foresee that he would make such a movement with this level of alcohol. Ali and I had a very special friendship that everyone knows. The Bahar family knows this very well. I have no fault in Ali's death.' The other non-detained defendant Y.C.Ç. also requested his acquittal.
THE COURT ANNOUNCED ITS DECISION
The court panel sentenced defendant M.S.Ç. to 1 year 8 months in prison for 'causing death by negligence' and decided to defer the announcement of the judgment. Defendant Y.C.Ç. was acquitted.
Making a statement after the hearing, Şebnem Bahar said, 'We will pursue justice. Together with my lawyers, we will follow the court process. From the day the incident began, it started with a lie. Today it continued with a lie again. After my precious husband Ali Bahar, the two remaining defendants made up a scenario. We have been trying to heal our wounds for two years. But my hope still continues.'
'WE WILL USE OUR LEGAL RIGHTS AGAINST THE DECISION'
The Bahar family's lawyer Naim Karakaya said, 'In the case where the late Ali Bahar lost his life in Kemer, the Heavy Penal Court issued a judgment. We expected the defendants to be punished for 'killing with possible intent'. Because Ali Bahar is not among us today, he could not defend himself and could not express an opinion on how the incident happened. We will use our legal rights against the decision. We hope that a fairer decision will come from the higher court and that our struggle regarding this attack on the late Ali Bahar's right to life will succeed.'