In Antalya, the second hearing on the funicular disaster case was held
In Antalya, the second hearing of the case related to the cable car accident at Tünektepe Cable Car Facilities, which resulted in one death and seven injuries, was held today.
The trial continued for the cable car accident that occurred on April 12, 2024, at the Tünektepe Cable Car Facilities in the Konyaaltı district of Antalya, resulting in one fatality and seven injuries. The second hearing of the case, held at the Antalya 6th High Criminal Court, began at 11:00 a.m. and lasted for six hours. Kepez Mayor Mesut Kocagöz, who was released on bail and is being tried without detention, did not attend the hearing due to a municipal council meeting. Other detained and non-detained defendants, plaintiffs, and their lawyers were present in the courtroom. The court proceeded with the case after the requested missing documents were provided. Testimonies were taken from victims who had not been heard in the previous session.
"I saw the pole fall"
Özlem Ş., a victim severely injured in the accident, stated that they boarded the cable car around 17:20 on the day of the incident and said, "While we were moving downward with eight people in the cabin, I saw the pole fall. Shortly after, the pole hit the cabin, and we fell to the ground. As soon as we fell, I felt severe pain in my ribs and had difficulty breathing. About 45 minutes later, AFAD teams arrived and intervened. Two hours later, I was evacuated by helicopter. I was taken to intensive care as a serious injury case. I stayed in intensive care for about three days. Fractures in my ribs and leg were detected. I have been in this condition for about four months. My 10-year-old son was also affected by the incident. He attended the previous hearing and gave his testimony. He did not attend this hearing due to the significant impact of the event. I am complaining about all the defendants."
The judge requested defenses from the defendants regarding the expert report's results. Detained defendant Ahmet Buğra Samsunlu, the then-General Manager of ANET, stated that he did not accept the parts of the expert report that were against him. Mesut Kocagöz's lawyer, Buğra Özçelik, requested the removal of the international travel ban, stating that his client, as mayor, has significant projects for the Kepez district and needs to engage in direct meetings and seek financial resources abroad to implement these projects.
At the end of the hearing, the court decided to continue the detention of the detained defendants, maintain the international travel ban for non-detained defendant Mesut Kocagöz, and postponed the hearing to October 1 for the completion of missing documents.
What happened
On April 12, 2024, a cable car accident occurred in the Konyaaltı district, resulting in one death, seven injuries, and the rescue of 174 people trapped for 23 hours. Five people, including former ANET Board Chairman and current Kepez Mayor Mesut Kocagöz, were arrested in connection with the accident. The indictment prepared by the prosecutor's office was accepted by the Antalya 6th High Criminal Court.
The 36-page indictment lists 150 people, including the deceased Memiş Gümüş, as complainants. The same indictment also includes 12 suspects, among them the newly elected Mayor of Kepez Mesut Kocagöz, acting General Manager of ANET Ahmet Buğra Samsunlu, Okan Erol, and Serkan Yellice. The prosecutor requested that the 12 suspects be punished for "endangering traffic safety by negligence" and "causing death and injury by negligence." The indictment requested that Mesut Kocagöz, Ahmet Buğra Samsunlu, Edip K.B., Serdar Tezcan, Okan Erol, Serkan Yellice, and Suphi K. be deemed primarily at fault, while Orhan K., Kazım K., Hüseyin A., Özgür E., and Aziz A. were considered secondarily at fault. The prosecutor requested sentences of up to 27 years for the suspects.
At the first hearing, the court ruled for the release of defendant Mesut Kocagöz, continued the detention of defendants Ahmet Buğra Samsunlu, Serkan Yellice, Serdar Tezcan, and Okan Erol, and ordered the detention of defendant Suphi Kaplan.
