Suspect Released in Torun Center Workplace Murder Case

Istanbul 13^th High Criminal Court resumed the case of Torun Center workplace murder - an incident caused by a work elevator carrying workers in Istanbul's Mecidiyeköy district falling from floor 32 and leaving 10 workers dead on September 8. 

Out of 25 defendants standing trial in the case yesterday, 12 are affiliated with Torunlar Construction Co, 5 with Geda Majör Elevator Co, and 8 with NCA Work and Occupational Safety Co.  

While the hearing lasted until 1:30 am local time, judge Metin Tamirci ruled the release of Adem Akyıldız, a lift technician and one of the four jailed defendants. 

Drafted by prosecutor Erdal Bağcı, the case indictment charged 25 defendants with “causing the death of 10 workers with negligence”. Thee defendants are facing prison terms from 2.5 up to 22.5 years. 

On the other hand, advocate Yıldız İmrek claimed during the hearing that the incident could be preventable and requested the trial of defendants with “probable premeditated murder”. 

“Occupational safety firm is responsible” 

Murat Aytimur, the jailed project manager, responded the inquiries during the hearing. 

Answering a question on the fact that lift operator Ali Hıdır Genç was hired with no previous training or experience, Aytimur said Genç was hired by Torunlar Construction Co and he only gave him the assignment as bloc supervisor or ground assistant. 

He claimed that he wasn’t in his control of the worker’s capacity and held NCA lift firm responsible. 

“I am working under Vice GM Remzi Aydın. Above him, there must be Chairman Aziz Torun. We came up with the lift issue in our weekly Thursday meetings and we would report them to the related units,” Aytimur said. 

He also added that they haven’t hired a qualified lift operator in construction zones for years. 

Expert report found employer faulty 

An expert report on the incident found lift operating firm (Geda Major) and construction firm (Torunlar) majorly faulty as well as the occupation safety firm (NCA) indirectly faulty. 

Employers’ charges were discontinued 

In the course of investigation, the prosecutor discontinued the charges for 9 defendants including Torunlar Construction Co Chairman Aziz Torun and Vice GM Yunus Emre Torun. 

Workers face trial, bosses free outside 

Mustafa Genç, father of deceased worker Ali Hıdır Genç, told bianet the following: I didn’t accept the damages they offered. I don’t believe in the trial. They are going to put the blame on workers like me. It would be against my conscious to see them jailed. The bosses are the ones responsible indeed. I will take it to ECHR if necessary. Unless the bosses receive a sentence, these murders will resume. We are struggling so others won’t die anymore. (NV/BM)

* Click here to read the article in Turkish.