Within the scope of the investigation conducted by the İzmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the deaths of Özge Ceren Deniz (23) and İnanç Öktemay (44) who were electrocuted during the heavy rainfall in the Alsancak district of Konak, İzmir on July 12, a detention warrant was issued yesterday for 11 suspects, including İZSU General Manager Gürkan Erdoğan and GDZ Electricity Distribution General Manager Uğur Yüksel.

The prosecutor's investigation into the suspects, who were detained upon the instructions of the prosecutor's office, was completed at the İzmir Bayraklı Courthouse and the suspects were referred to the Criminal Court of Peace.

The prosecutor's office requested the arrest of İZSU General Manager Gürkan Erdoğan, Adana Municipality Secretary General – Former İZSU General Manager Ali Hıdır Köseoğlu, İZSU Deputy General Manager Serdar Sadi, DGZ Electricity Distribution Manager Uğur Yüksel, Metropolitan Region Manager Ali Arcan, Operations Director Sefa Pişkinleblebici, Construction Works Field Manager Mürsel Arıcı, Construction Works Manager Specialist Alper Doğan and GDZ personnel Halit Özpelit.

Judicial control was requested for System Operation and Maintenance Manager Ekrem Yıldırım and Planning and Technology Director Necati Ergin.

COURT RELEASED 2 PEOPLE

While the suspects appeared before the judge in the on-call court, System Operation and Maintenance Manager Ekrem Yıldırım and Planning and Technology Director Necati Ergin were released pending trial with the condition of judicial control and a ban on traveling abroad.

İZSU General Manager Erdoğan and GDZ Elektrik A.Ş. General Manager Yüksel were released on condition of judicial control.

BRIGADE FOLLOWED FROM THE COURTHOUSE

While the hearing was still ongoing, Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Cemil Tugay came to the courthouse, greeted Erdoğan's family, then entered the courthouse and followed the proceedings from in front of the courtroom.

In the hearing that lasted until midnight, the on-call court made its decision regarding the 9 people to whom the prosecutor's office had requested detention.

Within the scope of the decision, seven people, including İZSU General Manager Erdoğan and GDZ Elektrik A.Ş. General Manager Yüksel, were released on condition of judicial control and pending trial. House arrest was ordered for two people who are GDZ Elektrik A.Ş. employees. With the decision, it was decided to put electronic bracelets on Construction Works Field Manager Mürsel Arıcı and Construction Works Manager Specialist Alper Doğan.

TUGAY: “WE HAVE FORMED A CONVICTION THAT THE PROCESS WILL FUNCTION MORE CORRECTLY LEGALLY”

Making a statement after the decision, Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Cemil Tugay stated that they believed the process would be carried out in accordance with the law and said the following:

“Today, at this hour, we are here with a decision that makes us happy. Yesterday, at a completely unexpected moment, in a completely unexpected way, we received news that our general manager, assistant general manager and former general manager had been detained. And after that, we carefully tried to understand where this came from. We understood that this detention decision was made based on some claims in a submitted expert report.

However, we believe these were not really causal or legally valid claims. Our legal colleagues have been defending these claims since yesterday, together with our general manager and assistant general manager, that they were unfounded. The way our general manager and assistant general manager were detained yesterday while they were working in our institution has disturbed us greatly. And from that moment on, we were also concerned about whether this process would proceed legally. However, today, our court ruled to release them. And from that moment on, we have formed a belief that this process will proceed more legally correctly.

We will continue to do whatever is necessary to contribute to the legal process regarding the two citizens we lost, with all our transparency. We have a sadness for them that we will never lose. However, we are all looking for justice. We are also making an effort to ensure that justice is served here. I believe that the decision made today regarding our friends is fair.”

ERDOĞAN: “WE ARE EXTREMELY HAPPY THAT THE PROCESS ENDED THIS WAY”

İZSU General Manager Erdoğan made the following statements regarding the decision:

“We have never hesitated to testify or be tried. In this sense, we have never been afraid. We have always tried to go and assist the judicial authorities throughout the process. We are extremely happy that the process has ended this way. We are extremely happy with the decision that has been made on our behalf. In addition, we are aware that this city represents certain values. We see our duty not only as a civil servant but also as a carrier of the values ​​that this city symbolizes. In this sense, we will be on duty as of tomorrow morning. We will continue to work with all our heart and soul.”