08.07.2025 22:20
In the fire disaster in Bolu Kartalkaya, where 78 people lost their lives, the attempt of the hotel's general manager, Emir Aras, to shift responsibility caused a stir in the courtroom. Aras, who stated, "I do not accept that I committed a crime intentionally and with possible intent. My title as general manager was for obtaining a gun license. This is a family business. Whatever my father-in-law says is what happens," faced backlash from the victim's families.
In the Grand Kartal Hotel fire at Bolu Kartalkaya Ski Resort, where 78 people lost their lives and 133 were injured, the trial of 32 defendants, including the hotel owner and municipal officials, continues, with 19 of them in custody. In the first hearing of the case held in a specially created hall at the Bolu Social Sciences High School gymnasium by the Bolu 1st Heavy Penal Court, the defendants' statements were taken.
RESPONSE FROM THE HOTEL MANAGER DRAWS REACTION
The hotel manager, Emir Aras, who is also the son-in-law of the hotel owner, drew the ire of families who lost their loved ones by trying to shift responsibility in response to the victim's lawyer's consecutive questions.
"MY TITLE AS GENERAL MANAGER IS ONLY TO OBTAIN A GUN LICENSE"
Aras stated that his title as general manager was only to obtain a gun license and that all decisions at the hotel were made by his father-in-law, Halit Ergül. According to journalist Emrullah Erdinç, he said: "When the firefighters arrived, I asked the people in front of the window if they could move to other rooms. I explained the structure of the building to them. I provided the same information to every firefighter who came. I did everything I could with everyone there.
"WHATEVER MY FATHER-IN-LAW SAYS IN THE COMPANY IS WHAT HAPPENS"
After an hour, I couldn't do anything else. Early in the morning, I told the gendarmerie commander, 'I know the location of the cameras; that area did not burn.' I went inside with the gendarmerie criminal team, showed the location, but the footage was not taken. I do not accept that I committed a crime with possible intent knowingly and willingly. Whatever my father-in-law says in the company is what happens. This is a family business."
"WE MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ESCAPE THE FIRE EITHER"
The victim's lawyer's question, "When you learned about the fire, not even a single member of your family was harmed. Our children have died. Even the hotel staff were not harmed. The children on the lower floor died. Is this a coincidence?" drew attention. Following this question, applause erupted in the hall. Emir Aras responded, "The fire broke out in a different place. We might not have been able to escape either."