14.07.2025 15:31
The Grand Kartal Hotel trial, in which 19 defendants are in custody and 32 are being tried, is continuing on its 8th day in Bolu. Tuni Urhan, one of the hotel employees who testified at the hearing, claimed that the hotel manager, Zeki Yılmaz, made statements during the moments when the fire started, saying, "Don't inform anyone, let's handle it among ourselves."
The first hearing of the case regarding the hotel fire in Bolu, which claimed the lives of 78 people, is continuing on the 8th day, with 19 defendants in custody and 32 defendants being tried. In today's hearing, victims and witnesses are being heard.
In the fire that broke out at the Grand Kartal Hotel located in Kartalkaya Ski Resort on January 21, 78 people lost their lives, and 133 people were injured. In the indictment prepared by the Bolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office as part of the investigation initiated after the incident, hotel owners, board members, and managers Halit Ergül, Emine Murtezaoğlu Ergül, Ceyda Hacıbekiroğlu, Elif Aras, Emir Aras, Zeki Yılmaz, Ahmet Demir, Kadir Özdemir, Cemal Özer, Mehmet Salun, as well as Bolu 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 8th day of the hearing began with the testimonies of the victims, followed by the witnesses.
"MR. ZEKİ SENT THE STAFF TO THE GARAGE"
Tuni Urhan, responsible for the minibars in the hotel rooms, claimed that hotel manager Zeki Yılmaz said during the initial moments of the fire, "Don't inform anyone, let's handle it among ourselves," stating, "I was responsible for the drinks on the 9th and 12th floors. I was staying on the floor where the ski room was that night. My father was also working in the laundry. After a while, we met and went to the front of the hotel. When I went outside, it was around 03:00. I didn't hear the fire alarm, and I didn't see a fire extinguisher or sprinkler system. No fire training was provided, and no drills were conducted. As far as I know, there was no occupational safety expert. I heard that the fire detectors were turned off because smoking was allowed in the rooms. Kadir Özdemir hired me. When I went to the front, there were a few people. Among the staff, it was being said that Mr. Zeki told them, 'Don't inform anyone, let's handle it among ourselves.' I also heard that Mr. Zeki sent a few staff members to the garage," he said.
"YOU TOOK OUR LIFE RESOURCES"
Gülşen Boncuk, who lost her daughter Yasemin Tüzgiray (41), son-in-law Erhan Tüzgiray (48), and grandchildren Defne (11) and Demir Tüzgiray in the fire, began her speech in tears, telling the defendants, "Look into my eyes." Gülşen Boncuk said, "I want to look into the eyes of those responsible. My son, my daughter-in-law, and my two grandchildren died. Look into my eyes. You cannot leave people to burn while you save yourselves. I want you not to die; don't die every day saying, 'We are the murderers of 78 people,' suffer. Dying is cleanliness. We will no longer be able to see our children. Will I no longer be able to see our little ones, our children? You took our life resources," she said.
32 DEFENDANTS ARE ON TRIAL
Additionally, the indictment also includes the hotel's technical staff 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 Inc. İbrahim Polat and İsmail Karagöz, officials of FQC Global Certification Inc. Ali Ağaoğlu and employee Aleyna Beşinci, LPG installation maintenance staff Doğan Aydın and Muharrem Şen, Bolu Provincial Special Administration Secretary Sırrı Köstereli, Bolu Provincial Special Administration Deputy Secretary Bünyamin Bal, Bolu Provincial Special Administration License and Inspection Director Yeliz Erdoğan, and former Bolu Provincial Special Administration License and Inspection Director Mehmet Özel, who are all charged with 'causing the death and injury of multiple people through conscious negligence,' are facing a request for imprisonment of up to 22 years and 6 months each.