06.06.2025 16:21
The fugitive defendant, contractor Hüseyin Yalçın Coşkun, who was wanted with a red notice in the case of the Rönesans Residence, which was marketed with the slogan "A corner of paradise" in Hatay and where 269 people lost their lives in the February 6 earthquakes, was found dead in Serbia.
The Renaissance Residence in Antakya, Hatay, built by ANTİS Yapı and marketed with the slogan "A Corner of Paradise," was destroyed in the earthquakes on February 6. Among the 269 people who lost their lives under the rubble were Hatayspor football player Christian Atsu, Hatayspor's Sports Director Taner Savut, and national handball player Cemal Kütahya, while 13 others were injured. 59 people, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Hatay Representative Devrim Öztürk, are still unreachable.
The Hatay Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has filed a lawsuit against contractor Mehmet Yaşar Coşkun, officials from the construction inspection company Mehmet Haşim Eraslan, Bülent Seküçoğlu, and Ayhan Karan, control officer Önder Artun, construction technician İbrahim Dahıroğlu, site chief Bayram Mansuroğlu, and the static project manager, site chief, and company partner Hüseyin Yalçın Coşkun, who is the contractor's brother, for "causing the death of multiple people through conscious negligence," seeking prison sentences of up to 22 years and 6 months.
DIED DUE TO BOWEL OBSTRUCTION
A red notice was issued for fugitive suspect Hüseyin Yalçın Coşkun, but he had not been captured for months. It was learned that suspect Coşkun died in Serbia due to bowel obstruction.
"THE SUSPECT WAS AWARE HE WOULD BE PUNISHED"
Lawyer Cansu Albayrak, who lost relatives in the Renaissance Residence, stated the following in her statement: "Hüseyin Yalçın Coşkun was a partner of the contracting company of the Renaissance Residence and also the engineer of the structure. He fled abroad a few days after the earthquake, before any trial process had begun, and a red notice was issued for his search. All expert reports submitted in the case have identified him as 'primarily at fault.' The suspect was aware that he was primarily at fault in the disaster and that he would be punished as a result of the trial. For this reason, he has been on the run for over 2 years. At this point, we have received the news that the suspect, who was wanted with a red notice, has died.
"VICTIM FAMILIES WERE DEEPLY SHAKEN BY THE SUSPECT'S DEATH"
As victim families and their representatives, our only request was for all suspects responsible for this tragedy to be punished with the heaviest penalties. However, the suspect could not be tried because he fled and died without receiving the punishment he deserved as a result of the trial. The victim families, who have already suffered heavy losses, have been deeply shaken again by the suspect's escape from trial and subsequent death. After this development, our greatest hope is that the remaining suspects receive the heaviest penalties they deserve before justice."
WHAT HAPPENED?
Fugitive suspect Hüseyin Yalçın Coşkun's contractor brother Mehmet Yaşar Coşkun was caught at Istanbul Airport on February 10, 2023, while trying to flee abroad with a significant amount of cash on Turkish Airlines' flight to Montenegro, and was subsequently arrested.