Kazova Workers Sued for “Insulting Their Boss”

Gaye Somuncu, the former employer of Kazova workers, sued two workers over “putting her in a hard situation by protests and interrupting workforce”. The aforementioned workers, Bülent Ünal and Aynur Aydemir, were said to have been laid out without their repartitions. They are now facing prison sentence up to 2 years for violating Turkish Penal Code Article 125. 

An indictment issued by prosecutor Halit Kırşehirli accused the defendants of having telling Somoncu “a reckless liar” during a protest. It also claimed that defendants refused to find a middle ground and pleading not guilty. 

“It is not my problem”

Gaye Somuncu was only of the co-share holder of Kazova factory. She is also the daughter of former owner Ümit Somuncu and sister of Mustafa Umut Somuncu. She also claimed that several workers have protested on the steps of her office on May 31, saying that “they weren’t compensated fairly”. 

“It is not my problem [that they can’t get a job]. However, I have been subjected to their “persistent and threatening harassments”, she said in her complaint statement. 

She also added that she met with her employees on June 5 and they came back again to protest on June 19 with slogans. 

“Threat, blackmail, insult” accusations

Gaye Somuncu also claimed that the behaviors and messages of aforementioned workers clearly passed as threat or blackmail. “I am afraid of being assaulted one day,” she added. 

“My work schedule has been interrupted due to protests taking place three times already. I am being put in hard situation.” 

First hearing on December 5

Aynur Aydemir, one of the defendants, said she pleaded not guilty on insult accusations. 

“Gaye Somuncu is one of the former co-woners of the company. We went to her office after we were laid off unfairly. She received us. We talked to her inside the building and no more. We never threatened her, we said we would take legal action.” 

Bülent Ünal also reiterated that they neither insulted nor threatened Somuncu. 

Istanbul 5th Peace Court ordered 2 defendants to stand trial on December 5 at 10:30 am local time. (AS/BM)

* Click here to read the original article in Turkish.