Death toll in ?zmir bootleg booze scandal rises to 11

The number of people who have died after drinking bootleg alcohol in the Aegean province of ?zmir has risen to 11, as three people hospitalized because of bootleg alcohol poisoning could not be saved.

The latest death was that of Hasan Kutlu, 63, who was hospitalized in ?zmir's Buca district due to alcohol poisoning on Nov. 30, died early on Dec. 3 in the Ege University Medical School Hospital where he had been treated.

Kutlu's body has been taken to the ?zmir Forensic Institute for medical examination. The police are reported to be searching for one man in the area who is suspected of illicitly producing the alcohol that killed him.  

Kutlu's death came a day after two other people, identified as Gürkan Tap?nç and Cemil ?ipka, who had been hospitalized over bootleg alcohol poisoning in ?zmir, died on Dec. 2, bringing the total death toll in the scandal in ?zmir to 11.

The victims killed by bootleg alcohol in ?zmir are Ali Ulutürk, Alem Pena Çandar, Ömer Akgün Yüngeli?, Özkan Yaman, Köksal Çetin, Birol Bacakl?, Cesur Artan, Seçgin Dengiz, Gürkan Tap?nç, Cemil, and Hasan Kutlu.

A number of deaths have also occurred in Istanbul over the past few months as a result of bootleg alcohol.

The scandal erupted in late October, as news surfaced that dozens of people had died from drinking counterfeit rak?, a Turkish liquor made of anise. 

A friend of the victim Yüngeli? said rising prices were encouraging bootleg alcohol consumption. 

Mehmet Y?lmaz Durgun, Yüngeli?'s flat mate, said he would continue to drink illicit alcohol despite the risks, as he said he could not afford legally produced alcohol. 

"Labelled rak? is very expensive. It costs 50 [Turkish] Liras while bootleg rak? costs 10 liras. I...