10.07.2025 12:40
On the fourth day of the trial regarding the hotel fire disaster in Kartalkaya, which claimed the lives of 78 people, tension arose in the courtroom. During the defense of the head chef, the presiding judge showed footage of the moment the fire broke out. Lawyer Yüksel Gültekin, who lost 8 relatives in the fire, reacted, leading to a dispute between the victim's and the defendants' lawyers. Some of the defendants' lawyers left the courtroom.
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In the Grand Kartal Hotel located in Kartalkaya Ski Center in Bolu, 78 people, including 36 children, lost their lives in a fire that broke out on January 21, and 133 people were injured. On the fourth day of the trial regarding the tragedy, where 32 defendants, 19 of whom are in custody, are being prosecuted, head chef Reşat Bölük made his defense.
"I ESCAPED WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY, I AM COMPLAINING"
In his defense, Reşat Bölük stated, "I only work at the hotel during the winter season. The grill plate device, where the fire broke out, is turned on around 05:30-06:00. The grill plate device is in the show area. The trash can next to the grill plate device is empty because it is cleaned overnight. First, I turn on the switch and then I turn on the button of the grill plate device; it is activated with these two operations. I am not aware of the deficiencies identified during the fire department's inspection. I do not accept the accusations. Because I barely saved my life, I injured myself. I am complaining, and I want to participate in the case," he said.
FOOTAGE OF THE MOMENT THE FIRE BROKE OUT WAS SHOWN
After Bölük's statement, the presiding judge showed the security camera footage of the moment the fire broke out to those present in the courtroom. After the footage, the court called the technical team and kitchen staff to the stand and took collective statements. Each of them was asked in turn, "What is this flash?"
DEFENSE ATTORNEYS LEFT THE COURTROOM
While Reşat Bölük's lawyer was starting his defense, lawyer Yüksel Gültekin, who lost 8 relatives in the fire, reacted. Following this, a dispute broke out between the victim and defendant lawyers. After the argument, some defendant lawyers left the courtroom. The relatives of the victims also reacted to the lawyers who left the courtroom. A break was given in the hearing.
"IF I DISTURB THE PEACE, THROW ME OUT OF THE HEARING"
After the break, during the resumed hearing, lawyer Yüksel Gültekin apologized to the court panel and those present, saying, "If I disturb the peace, throw me out of the hearing; if someone else disturbs it, throw them out too. I promise I will do what is necessary for the court to proceed smoothly."
UP TO 1998 YEARS OF IMPRISONMENT SOUGHT
In the indictment prepared by the Bolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office as part of the investigation initiated after the fire disaster, hotel owners, board members, and managers Halit Ergül, Emine Murtezaoğlu Ergül, Ceyda Hacıbekiroğlu, Elif Aras, Emir Aras, Zeki Yılmaz, Ahmet Demir, Kadir Özdemir, Cemal Özer, Mehmet Salun, Bolu Deputy Mayor Sedat Gülener, Acting Fire Chief Kenan Coşkun, and Firefighter İrfan Acar are charged with 'manslaughter with probable intent' and 'intentional injury with probable intent' for a total of up to 1998 years in prison.
REQUEST FOR UP TO 22 YEARS AND 6 MONTHS OF IMPRISONMENT
The indictment also requests that the hotel's technical staff Tahsin Pekcan, Hüseyin Özer, and Bayram Ütkü, kitchen staff Reşat Bölük, Enver Öztürk, and Faysal Yaver, occupational safety experts Kübra Demir and Ece Kayacan, receptionist Yiğithan Burak Çetin, officials of Mudurnu Energy Industry and Trade Inc. İbrahim Polat and İsmail Karagöz, FQC Global Certification Inc. official Ali Ağaoğlu and employee Aleyna Beşinci, LPG installation maintenance personnel Doğan Aydın and Muharrem Şen, Bolu Provincial Special Administration Secretary Sırrı Köstereli, Bolu Provincial Special Administration Deputy Secretary Bünyamin Bal, Bolu Provincial Special Administration License and Inspection Director Yeliz Erdoğan, and former Bolu Provincial Special Administration License and Inspection Director Mehmet Özel be sentenced to up to 22 years and 6 months in prison for 'causing the death and injury of multiple people through conscious negligence.'
24 DEFENDANTS MADE THEIR DEFENSE IN THE FIRST 3 DAYS
For the trial, the gym located within Bolu Social Sciences High School was converted into a courtroom with a capacity of 700 people. The courtroom was equipped with state-of-the-art technology, from camera systems to infrastructure. Intense security measures were taken before the hearing, and the first hearing of the trial, which Turkey has been eagerly awaiting, began on July 7. On the first day of the hearing; Gazelle Hotel Resort Manager detained defendant Ahmet Demir, employee of the conformity assessment company FQC Global Certification Inc. non-detained defendant Aleyna B., official of the same company non-detained defendant Ali A., technical staff non-detained defendant Bayram Ü., detained Tahsin Pekcan, detained Hüseyin Özer, and Bolu Provincial Special Administration Secretary detained Sırrı Köstereli, Deputy Secretary detained Bünyamin Bal, and Provincial Special Administration License Director detained Yeliz Erdoğan made their defenses.
On the second day of the hearing, July 8, detained defendant Seben District Special Administration Director Mehmet Özel, Grand Kartal Hotel accounting employee detained defendant Cemal Özer, Gazelle Hotel Accounting Manager Kadir Özdemir, non-detained defendant Doğan A. who controlled and maintained the hotel's gas system, detained defendant Muharrem Şen, Occupational Health and Safety Expert detained defendant Ece Kayacan, Occupational Health and Safety Expert non-detained defendant Kübra D., and detained defendant Emir Aras, General Manager of Grand Kartal A.Ş. made their defenses.
Yesterday, non-detained defendant Mehmet S., who worked as an accountant at the hotel, the hotel's manager Zeki Yılmaz, detained defendants Ceyda Hacıbekiroğlu and Elif Aras, who are the daughters of hotel owner Halit Ergül, detained defendant Emine Murtezaoğlu Ergül, Halit Ergül's wife, and detained defendant Faysal Yaver, the hotel's chef assistant made their defenses.
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