14.08.2025 18:23
The fugitive defendants Sami Kervancıoğlu and Mustafa Pekel, involved in the case of the Ezgi Apartment, which collapsed during the earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş on February 6 and became the grave of 35 people, were captured in an operation carried out at the villa where they were hiding in Ankara. The defendants, for whom prison sentences of up to 876 years and 6 months are sought, appeared before the judge. Rezan Epözdemir, one of the lawyers representing the plaintiffs, could not attend the hearing because he was arrested.
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The Ezgi Apartment, located in the Onikişubat district of Kahramanmaraş, was destroyed in the earthquakes that occurred on February 6, 2023. 35 people trapped under the rubble lost their lives. In the investigation related to the case, 2 fugitive suspects were captured in an operation.
FUGITIVE SUSPECTS CAPTURED After the technical and physical surveillance conducted by the General Directorate of Security's Intelligence Department, it was determined that Sami Kervancıoğlu and Mustafa Pekel were staying in a villa in the Sincan district of Ankara.
In a statement made today by the Kahramanmaraş Governorship, it was reported that Sami Kervancıoğlu and Mustafa Pekel, who had been wanted for 703 days, were captured in the Etimesgut district of Ankara. The statement said, "As a result of the efforts to capture fugitive individuals within the scope of the earthquake investigations, the individuals wanted for causing the collapse of the Ezgi Apartment in the February 6 earthquakes were captured in an operation conducted at their residence in the Etimesgut district of Ankara on August 14, 2025, around 03:00."
The fugitive suspects Kervancıoğlu and Pekel, captured in the operation conducted at the address, were brought to Kahramanmaraş. After their statements, the suspects were referred to the courthouse.
Captured fugitive suspects Sami Kervancıoğlu and Mustafa Pekel HEARING CONTINUES Kervancıoğlu and Pekel were brought before the judge shortly after arriving at the Kahramanmaraş Courthouse. The hearing at the Kahramanmaraş 4th Heavy Penal Court is ongoing.
REZAN EPÖZDEMİR DETAIL One of the lawyers for the plaintiff was Rezan Epözdemir. Epözdemir could not attend the hearing because he was arrested for "bribery" and "aiding bribery."
WHAT HAPPENED? 35 people lost their lives in the rubble of the collapsed Ezgi Apartment during the earthquake. Among the deceased were lawyer Ahmet Can and Nesibe Zabun, along with their 6-month-old baby Asude.
In the indictment prepared by the Kahramanmaraş Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the officials of Kervan Pastry Shop, which operated in the Ezgi Apartment, and the suspects Sami Kervancıoğlu and Mustafa Pekel, along with the suspect Ertan Danacı, who organized the renovation in the pastry shop, were charged with 35 counts of "intentional killing with probable intent" and "intentional injury with probable intent," with each facing a prison sentence of 700 years and 4 months to 876 years and 6 months. For the suspect contractor Yakup Aktaş and the technical responsible Mehmet Tekin, who are being tried without detention, a prison sentence of 8 months to 22 years and 5 months was requested for "causing death and injury by conscious negligence."
The Ezgi Apartment, which collapsed in the February 6 earthquakes Additionally, the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office had filed a lawsuit against Fahri Yiğitoğlu, Veli Çiftaslan, and Mehmet Dişçeken, who were found to be at fault in the expert report and were working at the Kahramanmaraş Municipality during the period when the building was constructed, as well as the personnel of the Onikişubat Municipality who approved the renovations at Kervan Pastry Shop, Sait Avşar, Ali Gemci, Mehmet Akif Canlı, and Mustafa Şirikçi, for "causing death and injury by negligence."
In a letter sent from the Ministry of Interior to the Kahramanmaraş Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was stated that the two suspects were evaluated to have left the country illegally.
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