The daughter of Halit Ergül, the owner of Grand Kartal Hotel, sold her father.

09.07.2025 15:35

In the trial regarding the hotel fire in Kartalkaya that claimed the lives of 78 people, Ceyda Hacıbekiroğlu, the daughter of Halit Ergül, the owner of Grand Kartal Hotel who has been arrested, stated, "Even though we have no responsibility or authority, my father took us into management. I only go to the hotel during vacation times. I have no authority at the hotel."

One of Turkey's important ski resorts, the Grand Kartal Hotel located in Bolu Kartalkaya, is currently facing a trial at the Bolu 1st High Criminal Court regarding the fire disaster that occurred on January 21, which resulted in the deaths of 78 people, including 36 children, and injuries to 133 others. The hearing, held in a specially created 700-person hall in the gymnasium of Bolu Social Sciences High School, was attended by both detained and non-detained defendants, those injured in the fire, relatives of the deceased, and attorneys for the parties involved. On the third day of the trial, the defenses of the hotel's assistant accounting manager, non-detained defendant Mehmet Salun, and the hotel's detained manager, Zeki Yılmaz, were taken.

"I THOUGHT THE NOISES WERE PARTY NOISES"

Next, the hotel owner Halit Ergül's daughter and detained defendant, board member Ceyda Hacıbekiroğlu, made her defense. Stating that she was at the hotel on the night of the incident, Hacıbekiroğlu said, "I was there that night, I lost my closest friend. I was staying on the 6th floor and woke up to the noises. I thought they were party noises. I had a wooden hammer in my hand, and I barely broke the window. I gave a hammer to a customer, and he broke the windows. He saved my children first, then me. I called my mother and told her to go out to the porch and save herself, then the phone went dead."

"PEOPLE WERE SCREAMING, SOME JUMPED"

Ceyda Hacıbekiroğlu expressed that she noticed cuts on her hands and face on the day of the incident, saying, "I realized this when my mother and children told me. When I entered the hotel, I saw 3 friends who were on the same floor as me. People were screaming, and some were jumping. The first fire trucks that arrived were 3 in number; I think one of them had a ladder. I don't know if the others did. I kept calling the fire department and told them the fire was big. Then more fire trucks came, and I directed them to the back of the hotel, which was worse. I saw the firemen who entered the back of the hotel opening a tarpaulin and a few people jumping, and I thought everyone would be saved this way. When I tried to reach my friends, I could no longer contact them, and the fire truck was backing out. When I asked why, they said the truck's tires were not suitable for the conditions, that the wheels were stuck in the snow, and they would intervene from the front."

"CARS WERE REMOVED FROM THE PARKING LOT DUE TO THE RISK OF EXPLOSION"

The expert report indicated that on the day of the incident, hotel staff directed their efforts towards the parking lot instead of informing the guests. In response to a question about this, Hacıbekiroğlu stated, "AFAD or the fire department said that there could be an explosion if the fire spread to the parking lot, and for this reason, the cars needed to be removed. The issue of removing the cars is just that."

"DESPITE NOT HAVING AUTHORITY, MY FATHER TOOK US INTO MANAGEMENT"

Continuing her defense, Hacıbekiroğlu said, "My husband came from Istanbul. He took my children, me, and my sister to Bolu city center. I was not there as the hotel owner; I was there like other guests for the semester break. Experiencing such a tragedy really saddens me. This hotel was established by my late grandfather, and there was a requirement for 5 people to be present in the company. We were also taken into management. Despite not having responsibility and authority, my father took us into management. I live in Istanbul and only go to the hotel during vacation times. My sister Elif Aras also lives in Istanbul and only comes to the hotel during holidays. I have no authority at the hotel," she stated.

After the defendant's defense, the hearing was adjourned.