Verdict in case regarding fatal explosion at ammunition factory in Balıkesir

An explosion occurred in the detonator production section of the ammunition factory named ‘ZSR Explosives Inc.’ operating in the Kavaklı Neighborhood of the Karesi district on December 24 last year. Muhammet Ergin (35), Seçil Çapa (25), Seda Akın (36), Tuğba Demir (22), Elif Özgür (20), Tuba Sert (42), Müberra Sönmez (46), Selin Karanlıkoğlu (28), Çetin Karamüftüoğlu (39), Enes Kırmızı (29) and Chemical Engineer Özlem Özçakır (33) lost their lives in the explosion, while 7 people were injured. The company’s acting manager Cem Yılmaz, explosives responsible manager Serkan Bozoğlu and occupational health and safety manager Hulusi Yağız Aboumarsa, who were detained in connection with the incident, were arrested, while explosives production manager Murad Bayraktar was released on probation.

The Balıkesir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has completed an investigation into the incident, and an indictment has been prepared. The eight-page indictment seeks sentences of two to 15 years in prison for defendants Cem Yılmaz, Serkan Bozoğlu, Murad Bayraktar, and Hulusi Yağız Aboumarsa, each charged with "causing the death of more than one person through negligence." At the first hearing of the case, held on March 21 at the Balıkesir 2nd High Criminal Court, Hulusi Yağız Aboumarsa was released pending trial.

Detained and non-detained defendants were present at the hearing.

The final hearing of the case was held today. Attendees included detained defendants Cem Yılmaz and Serkan Bozoğlu, non-detained defendants Hulusi Yağız Aboumarsa and Murad Bayraktar, and the family and lawyers of chemical engineer Özlem Özçakır, who lost her life in the incident.

At the hearing, the Public Prosecutor delivered his opinion on the merits and requested that the defendants be punished for the crime of "causing the death and injury of more than one person through negligence." The defendants, however, reiterated their defenses from the previous hearing and requested their acquittal. The court sentenced Cem Yılmaz, Serkan Bozoğlu, and Murad Bayraktar, who were determined to be primarily at fault in the incident, to 9 years and 2 months in prison each for the crime of "causing the death and injury of more than one person through negligence." Hulusi Yağız Aboumarsa, who was determined to be secondary at fault in the incident, was initially sentenced to 5 years and 6 months in prison for the same crime, but his sentence was later reduced to 4 years and 7 months through a discretionary reduction.

DHA