In the Kartalkaya case, the defendant Cemal Özer said: "I saw the fire, but I didn't wake anyone up."

08.07.2025 11:50

On the second day of the first hearing of the Kartalkaya fire case, the defendant, accounting staff member Cemal Özer, gave his testimony. Özer's contradictory statements increased the tension in the courtroom. He stated that the fire started shortly after he woke up, that he placed a towel under the door and stayed in the room for about an hour, that he did not inform anyone about the fire, and that the firefighters rescued him 10 minutes later.

On January 21, a fire broke out at the Grand Kartal Hotel in Bolu Kartalkaya, resulting in the deaths of 78 people, including 36 children, and injuries to 133 others. The first hearing of the case related to the fire is continuing on its second day. In the case where 32 defendants, 19 of whom are in custody, are being tried, defendant Cemal Özer, an accounting staff member of the Grand Kartal Hotel, made a defense statement. Özer is facing a total of up to 1998 years in prison for 78 counts of "manslaughter with probable intent" and "intentional injury with probable intent."

"THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESCUED ME AFTER 10 MINUTES"

According to the information conveyed by journalist Emrullah Erdinç, Özer's contradictory statements increased the tension in the hearing. Özer, who came to the witness stand, said the following:

Victim's Lawyer: Are you responsible for the fire safety equipment in the hotel?

Defendant Cemal Özer: No, I am not responsible.

Victim's Lawyer: How many minutes after the fire department arrived were you rescued?

Defendant Cemal Özer: About 10 minutes later.

"ELECTRICITY WAS CUT OFF AT 04:30"

Victim's Lawyer: When was the electricity cut off?

Defendant Cemal Özer: It came and went. It was completely cut off around 04:30.

Victim's Lawyer: Yesterday, Bayram Ütkü said we cut off the electricity after the fire department arrived. This contradicts that information.

Defendant Cemal Özer: The electricity was coming and going. Then it was completely cut off.

"I SAW THE FIRE BUT DID NOT WAKE ANYONE UP"

Victim's Lawyer: There were people in the adjacent room. Didn't you think about waking anyone up?

Defendant Cemal Özer: There was smoke in the corridor. It came out after a while. I put a towel under the door. No one shouted 'there's a fire.'

Victim's Lawyer: You say you woke up at 03:30. Is that time accurate?

Defendant Cemal Özer: Yes, it is accurate.

Victim's Lawyer: According to our findings, the fire started shortly after you woke up. So you waited in the room for an hour without informing anyone. Is that correct?

Defendant Cemal Özer: I couldn't even get to the corridor.

"I INFORMED MY MANAGER ABOUT THE FIRE"

Victim's Lawyer: Your phone was next to you at that time. Did you have a group chat with Emir Bey?

Defendant Cemal Özer: No, I did not chat.

Victim's Lawyer: That night, you had a phone conversation with Kadir Özdemir (Accounting Manager of Grand Kartal Hotel) over GSM. There is a 40-second call.

Defendant Cemal Özer: Yes, I called. I spoke for 30 seconds. I informed him about the fire. He asked about the situation.

"I HAD NO TRAINING BUT I WAS ASSIGNED IN THE EMERGENCY PLAN"

Victim's Lawyer: When did you learn that you were assigned in the emergency plan?

Defendant Cemal Özer: I learned from the list on the board.

Victim's Lawyer: You said you had no training. Did you object to this assignment?

Defendant Cemal Özer: No, I did not object.

Victim's Lawyer: Did you have any training?

Defendant Cemal Özer: No, I did not.

Victim's Lawyer: Was the task distribution always done?

Defendant Cemal Özer: Yes, it is done annually.

"EMİR ARAS GOT ANGRY AT US SAYING 'YOU GOT US INTO TROUBLE'"

Defendant Cemal Özer: On the day the fire department came for inspection, our manager said, 'They may come from the fire department today, accompany them.' The fire department came, and we went up to the 6th floor together. The firefighter measured the corridor with a digital meter, then inspected other areas. He filled out the prepared form, and I signed the report. I informed the accounting assistant. Then we told Emir Aras about the situation. We saw Gazelle Hotel Manager Ahmet Bey there, and we told him too. We explained the deficiencies to Emir Bey one by one. He reviewed the report and said, 'Okay, I will talk to Kadir Özdemir.' But then he got angry at us and said, 'You got us into trouble.'

THE DEFICIENCIES WRITTEN IN THE REPORT ARE AS FOLLOWS:

– The corridors are not compliant with regulations

– There is no emergency exit door

– The hood is not compliant

– There is no emergency exit lighting

"THE SIGNATURE ON THE EMERGENCY INTERVENTION TEAM IS NOT MINE"

Presiding Judge: What did you do after these deficiencies were identified?

Defendant Cemal Özer: I typed the report on the computer and showed it to Emir Bey. I also showed it to Gazelle Hotel Manager Ahmet Bey. He looked at the deficiencies and said, 'Okay.' After that, we spoke to Emir Bey again, and he got angry at us again.

Presiding Judge: Did Ahmet Demir come with you to Emir Aras?

Defendant Cemal Özer: No, he did not come.

Presiding Judge: Well, where was Ahmet Demir at that time?

Defendant Cemal Özer: He was at the Grand Kartal Hotel.

Presiding Judge: Did he see the report?

Defendant Cemal Özer: Yes, he saw it and read it.

Presiding Judge: Where were you during the fire?

Defendant Cemal Özer: I was at the hotel; the fire department rescued me.

Presiding Judge: Was fire training given to hotel staff?

Defendant Cemal Özer: It was never given during my term.

Presiding Judge: Was the fire alarm system turned off?

Defendant Cemal Özer: I don't know.

Presiding Judge: Was there a fire extinguisher?

Defendant Cemal Özer: Yes, there was.

Presiding Judge: Was it working?

Defendant Cemal Özer: I don't know.

Presiding Judge: Your name is on the emergency intervention team list. Is that correct?

Defendant Cemal Özer: I don't know.

Presiding Judge: Is the signature belonging to the emergency intervention team in the file yours?

Defendant Cemal Özer: No, it is not mine.