07.07.2025 16:31
In the case related to the fire at Bolu Grand Kartal Hotel, which resulted in the deaths of 78 people, 32 defendants are appearing before the judge for the first time. One of the defendants who conducted inspections at the hotel stated, "I reported the documents in the form of 'Is there, is there not?' However, I do not have the authority to evaluate whether the content of the documents is correct, applicable, or sufficient..."
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32 defendants appeared before the judge regarding the fire that occurred at the Grand Kartal Hotel in Bolu Kartalkaya Ski Resort, which led to the death of 78 people.
In the courtroom specially set up in the gymnasium of Bolu Social Sciences High School, the detained and non-detained defendants, the injured in the fire, the relatives of the deceased, and the lawyers of the parties attended the hearing held by the Bolu 1st Heavy Penal Court.
EXTENSIVE SECURITY MEASURES TAKEN IN THE AREA
Extensive security measures were taken by law enforcement inside and around the hall, and the streets and avenues surrounding the campus were closed to vehicle traffic. Those attending the hearing were allowed into the hall after being searched at two separate points. The hearing, recorded by the Audio and Video Information System (SEGBİS), began.
"I DO NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO EVALUATE WHETHER THE CONTENT OF THE DOCUMENTS IS CORRECT"
According to journalist Emrullah Erdinç, the defendant Aleyna B., who took the stand during the hearing, stated that she conducted a 14-item inspection regarding sustainable tourism criteria at the Grand Kartal Hotel, where the fire occurred. She said, "I conducted inspections in the field of environmental and sustainability. The legal compliance criterion is a very broad item. What we are asked to do is to check whether the documents and plans exist. I reported the documents as 'Is it there, or not?' However, I do not have the authority to evaluate whether the content of the documents is correct, applicable, or sufficient."
"THE HOTEL PAYS OUR INSPECTION COMPANY"
A tense dialogue occurred between the victim's lawyer and the defendant Aleyna B.:
- Victim's Lawyer: Who pays your fee? Does the hotel you inspect pay you?
- Defendant: The hotel we inspect pays our inspection company. Since I am an employee of this company, I receive my salary from there.
- Victim's Lawyer: Did you approve the documents without knowing what was in them?
- Defendant: I evaluate by examining the documents.
- Victim's Lawyer: Did you conduct the inspection related to the fire without looking?
- Defendant: I have no authority or information regarding the fire. I am a sustainable tourism inspector.
- Victim's Lawyer: You say you do not have research authority, but why did you accept this inspection? There is no occupational safety expert, but you made it seem like there was.
- Defendant: I examine the document and decide whether it exists or not.
- Victim's Lawyer: So, why couldn't you reach the findings that the experts reached?
- Defendant: When I went, the documents were valid, and the dates were current.
"WE DO NOT LOOK AT THE CONTENT OF THE REPORT"
Then, the owner of the inspection company, Ali Ağaoğlu, took the stand;
- Judge: Do you approve the report prepared by Aleyna B.?
- Defendant: Our approval is required at many stages.
- Judge: Do you look at everything?
- Defendant: We do not look at the content.
- Judge: How long have you been inspecting the Grand Kartal Hotel?
- Defendant: For 2 years.
WHAT HAPPENED?
In the fire that broke out at the Grand Kartal Hotel in Bolu Kartalkaya Ski Resort on January 21, 78 people lost their lives, and 133 people were injured.
In the 98-page indictment prepared by the Bolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and accepted by the 1st Heavy Penal Court, the hotel owners, board members, and managers Halit Ergül, Emine Mürtezaoğlu Ergül, Ceyda Hacıbekiroğlu, Elif Aras, Emir Aras, Zeki Yılmaz, Ahmet Demir, Kadir Özdemir, Cemal Özer, Mehmet Salun, as well as Bolu Municipality Deputy Mayor Sedat Gülener, Acting Fire Chief Kenan Coşkun, and firefighter İrfan Acar are facing a total of 1998 years in prison for 78 counts of "manslaughter with probable intent" and "intentional injury with probable intent."
The technical personnel of the hotel, 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 Joint Stock Company İbrahim Polat and İsmail Karagöz, FQC Global Certification Joint Stock Company official Ali Ağaoğlu and employee Aleyna Beşinci, LPG installation maintenance personnel Doğan Aydın and Muharrem Şen, General Secretary of the Provincial Special Administration Sırrı Köstereli, Deputy Secretary General of the Provincial Special Administration Bünyamin Bal, Provincial Special Administration License and Inspection Director Yeliz Erdoğan, and former Provincial Special Administration License and Inspection Director Mehmet Özel are also facing up to 22 years and 6 months in prison for "causing the death and injury of multiple people through conscious negligence."
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