10.12.2025 16:05
The only contractor who was imprisoned after the earthquake on August 17, 1999, which had its epicenter in Gölcük and resulted in the deaths of 18,000 people, Veli Göçer, has passed away. Göçer had been sentenced to 18 years and 9 months and spent 7.5 years in prison, claiming that the responsibility was placed on him.
Veli Göçer, known as the only contractor who faced legal consequences and was frequently mentioned during the process of the August 17, 1999 earthquake, has passed away. According to local media in Kocaeli, Göçer died at the age of 76.
Göçer and his partner İsmet Kösebalaban were sentenced to 18 years and 9 months in prison by the Konya 2nd Heavy Criminal Court for the crime of "causing the death of multiple people due to negligence and carelessness." The decision was upheld by the Court of Cassation.
HE SERVED 7.5 YEARS IN PRISON
After a lengthy legal process, Göçer's sentence became final, and he was imprisoned in 2004, serving a total of 7.5 years. While most of the approximately 2100 earthquake cases opened across Turkey ended in statute of limitations or conditional release, Göçer was recorded as the only contractor who served time in prison.
During the investigations following the earthquake, construction errors such as "theft of materials" and "use of sea sand" remained in the public eye for a long time. After his release, Göçer stated that he felt he was treated unfairly, claiming that all responsibility was placed on him and questioning why only he was punished.