26.01.2025 12:20
The statements of Halit Ergül, the owner of the Grand Kartal Hotel, who was arrested following the fire disaster that claimed the lives of 78 people, have emerged from the Bolu 2nd Criminal Court of Peace and the prosecutor's office. It has been revealed that Ergül, in an attempt to exonerate himself, blamed everyone from the hotel staff to the consulting company, despite selling rooms for 30,000 lira per person, he claimed that his monthly income was only 100,000 lira.
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In the Grand Kartal Hotel at the Bolu Kartalkaya Ski Resort, 78 people, mostly children, lost their lives in a fire that broke out in the early hours of January 21, and 51 people were injured.
As part of the investigation, 15 people have been arrested so far; it is expected that Sedat Gülener, the Deputy Mayor responsible for the fire department, Kenan Coşkun, the Acting Fire Chief, and Irfan Acar, a fire department staff member with signing authority, will also be brought to the Bolu Courthouse today.
BLAMED EVERYONE EXCEPT HIMSELF
The statement of Halit Ergül, the hotel owner who is among those arrested, has emerged in the Bolu 2nd Criminal Court of Peace and the prosecutor's office. In his statements, Halit Ergül particularly blamed the head chef, kitchen staff, the hotel's electrician, and security personnel. He stated that the head chef was responsible for the electrical appliances in the kitchen and that the control of the fire alarm buttons was done by the hotel's electrician. According to Hürriyet's report, he expressed that the security personnel patrolled the hotel 24 hours a day and were responsible for activating alarms in case of fire.
CLAIMED IT WAS DONE IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATIONS
Ergül also stated that annual contracts were made with FQC Global Consulting Inc., authorized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism regarding fire safety measures in the hotel, and regular inspections were carried out. He noted that during these inspections, no information was provided indicating that the fire escapes in the hotel were not in compliance with regulations, claiming that the hotel, built in 2007, was constructed in accordance with the regulations in effect at that time.
MONTHLY INCOME OF 100 THOUSAND LIRA
The hotel's electrician, Hüseyin Özer, denied the accusations, stating that he only fulfilled the assigned tasks and that the fire alarm and protection systems were managed by an external subcontractor. Özer expressed that he did not possess any technical knowledge regarding these systems, and that the relevant details were known by the hotel management or the technical director.
Halit Ergül also stated that his monthly income was 100,000 TL, and it was noted in the statement record held by the prosecutor's office that the hotel had received a sustainable tourism certificate, which is valid until 2025. Regarding the fire, it was stated that the hotel conducts fire drills every two years, that all staff participate in these drills, and that there are evacuation plans showing how to evacuate the hotel in case of fire, along with guiding illuminated signs in accordance with these plans. However, it was reported that the alarm system was likely damaged and not functioning during the fire, while the smoke detectors were activated.
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