How is this hotel owner? He answered every question with, "I learned it here."

How is this hotel owner? He answered every question with,

10.07.2025 21:30

In the fire disaster in Kartalkaya, where 78 people lost their lives, the defense of the hotel owner Halit Ergül, who is in custody, left everyone speechless during the trial. Ergül evaded every question from the court regarding the deficiencies in the hotel, often stating, "I learned this here." He continuously tried to shift the blame onto his staff in an attempt to avoid responsibility.

In the Grand Kartal Hotel fire at Bolu Kartalkaya Ski Resort, which resulted in the deaths of 78 people and injuries to 133 others, the trial of 32 defendants, including the hotel owner and municipal officials, continues on its fourth day.

HOTEL OWNER IN COURT IN KARTALKAYA TRAGEDY

On the fourth day of the trial held in a specially created courtroom in the gymnasium of Bolu Social Sciences High School, hotel owner Halit Ergül appeared before the judge. While Ergül responded to many questions from the court with "I learned it here," he also shifted the blame to his staff.

According to journalist Emrullah Erdinç, Ergül's responses to the questions posed by the presiding judge and the prosecutor were as follows:

"I LEARNED IT HERE"

Presiding Judge: When was the LPG installation laid in the Show area?

Defendant Halit Ergül: It was done during my father-in-law's time.

Presiding Judge: Were there any changes made to the LPG gas connection pipes?

Defendant Halit Ergül: I don't know; if there were, Hüseyin Özer would have known.

Presiding Judge: Who was responsible for the inspection of the Show area?

Defendant Halit Ergül: It was entirely under the responsibility of head chef Reşat Bölük. Both the kitchen and the buffet. In his statement here, he said, "I open at 12:00 and close at 04:00." However, breakfast service at the hotel starts at 07:00. In fact, he should have opened at 06:00.

Presiding Judge: Was there a fire response team established at the hotel?

Defendant Halit Ergül: I learned it here; I had no prior knowledge.

"I LEARNED HERE THAT NO FIRE TRAINING WAS PROVIDED AND THERE WAS NO OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY EXPERT"

Presiding Judge: Was fire training provided?

Defendant Halit Ergül: I learned here that it was not provided.

Presiding Judge: Was there an occupational safety expert at the hotel?

Defendant Halit Ergül: I learned here that there was not.

"THE LPG INSTALLATION WAS LEFT IN ITS ORIGINAL STATE"

Prosecutor: You said that the LPG project was previously done by your father-in-law and installed by Metin Tesisat.

Defendant Halit Ergül: Yes, it was done in 2005.

Prosecutor: Was there any change made later?

Defendant Halit Ergül: I took over in 2007. No changes were made after 2007; it remained in its original state.

Prosecutor: Reception staff say they did not receive fire training. Who is the responsible manager in this regard?

Defendant Halit Ergül: The person who would provide that training is Kadir Özdemir.

Prosecutor: There is a manager at the reception: Zeki Yıldırım. Did you make a request to him or Kadir Özdemir for fire training to be provided?

"I THOUGHT EVERYTHING WAS DONE ROUTINELY"

Defendant Halit Ergül: No, I thought everything was done routinely.

Prosecutor: Did Kadir Özdemir or Zeki Yıldırım come to you with such a request?

Defendant Halit Ergül: No, they did not come. If they had, I would have told them to do it immediately. I was even providing training to those working at Gazelle on an hourly wage. If I was providing training to them, I would definitely have provided it to those at Grand Kartal.

Prosecutor: Did you make a request for an occupational safety expert?

Defendant Halit Ergül: No, I did not.

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