15 Years Imprisonment for Deaths of 8 Women

8 women drowned in a van on 8 September when a flash flood hit parts of the Istanbul industrial district of Ikitelli. The women were employed at the 'Pameks Tekstil' company and were on their way to work in the company's van. Yet, the van's use was designated to the transportation of goods only. The women sat in the cargo area which had no windows and one single door only. When the bus driver tried to rescue the passengers from the rear of the van, all 8 women drowned in the water suddenly gushing into the cargo area.

Conveyance of passengers was clearly forbidden for this type of van. The employer and the manager were detained after the incident.

The Public Prosecutor's Office of Küçükçekmece, a district on Istanbul's European side, has completed the investigation into the deaths of the 8 female workers.

The prosecutor is demanding prison sentence of up to 15 years for the company's owner, the director of administration and the bus driver on the grounds of causing the death of more than one person. Company owner Cevdet Karahasanoğlu and administrative manager Ferit Göncü are in detention, bus driver Mehmet Oğuz remained un-detained.

Public Prosecutor İsmail Göktür sent his report to the Bakırköy Courthouse since there is no High Criminal Court in the district. Göktür's text also includes an expert report.

In an official statement of Pameks Tekstil the company held the women themselves responsible for their own death.

The expert report highlighted that the van used in the event lacked any features to be used for passenger transport. The vehicle with only one door in the rear and no windows was designed to carry cargo only. The prosecutor's report asks for up to 15 years imprisonment for the company's owner, the administrative manager and the bus driver under charges of "killing more than one person out of negligence".

Women demand trial for municipality

Several feminist groups organized demonstrations for the flood victims Güldane Çiftçi, Özlem Ünal, Nuriye Can, Altun Yüksek, Naciye Karadeniz, Bircan Karadaş, Nebahat Salkım and Fikriye Özentürk.

The Istanbul Women's Platform requested to trial local officers as well in addition to the employer. They hold the local officials responsible for the devastation of the flood because they allegedly based their politics on profits and at the same time did not control work and safety conditions at work places.

Lawyer: Serious danger could have been anticipated

Özgür Ercan , lawyer of victim Özlem Ünal, drew attention to the fact that in the incident evolved out of severe negligence.

Ercan remided that the concept of "severe neglegt" has been implemented into the modified Turkish Penal Code (TCK), stating that this concept is comparable with an intentional crime.

He pointed out that the death of 8 women was a "flaw that could have been anticipated": "The flood could not be foreseen but it could be anticipated that the van could become a cause of death".

The Lawyer explained that the cargo vehicle has been used not only once for the transport of people but for 10-15 years. He added that the employer tried to avoid the court case against him to be opened under charges of "murder at work".

"This way he will avoid paying compensation and also will he avoid a penalty. If 15 years imprisonment is suggested, the punishment will be decided for less. They will be in prison for a few years and then released. In the time the indictment is being prepared we will file the necessary objections". (EZÖ/VK)