02.11.2026 17:21
The verdict has been issued in the Proton Apartment case in Kahramanmaraş, where 64 people, including a 5-month-old baby, lost their lives in the February 6 earthquakes. The court sentenced contractor Rafet Küsmüş and static project designer Sıtkı Okumuş to 13 years and 4 months each in prison with a good conduct reduction and ordered the arrest of both defendants. Two public officials were sentenced to 6 years and 8 months each in prison, while two public officials were acquitted.
In the case concerning the Proton Apartment Building, which collapsed in the earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş, the final hearing was held at the Kahramanmaraş 4th High Criminal Court. The court sentenced 4 of the 6 defendants to prison.
64 PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE EARTHQUAKE
The Proton Apartment Building in Abdullah Çavuş Neighborhood of Onikişubat district collapsed in the February 6 earthquakes. 64 people, including a 5-month-old baby trapped under the rubble, lost their lives.
CASES MERGED
A lawsuit was filed against contractor and technical supervisor Rafet Küsmüş and structural project designer Sıtkı Okumuş for the offense of “causing death and injury through conscious negligence.” The cases filed against Hacı Mehmet Güner, Zeynel Abidin Şerefoğlu, Mehmet Dişçeken and Emre Arıkan, who were working at the Zoning Works Directorate of Kahramanmaraş Municipality at the time the building was constructed, were also merged with this case.
16 YEARS FOR CONTRACTOR, REDUCED TO 13 YEARS 4 MONTHS
The court panel sentenced contractor and technical supervisor Rafet Küsmüş to 16 years in prison for the offense of “causing death and injury through conscious negligence.” Considering the effect of the sentence on the defendant’s future, the court applied a good conduct reduction and reduced the sentence to 13 years 4 months.
Structural project designer Sıtkı Okumuş was also sentenced to 13 years 4 months in prison for the same offense.
ARREST AND BAN FROM PROFESSION
Along with the verdict, the court ordered the arrest of Küsmüş and Okumuş. The two defendants were also banned from practicing their profession for 2 years.
PRISON FOR 2 PUBLIC OFFICIALS, ACQUITTAL FOR 2
Public officials Hacı Mehmet Güner and Zeynel Abidin Şerefoğlu were sentenced to 8 years in prison each for the offense of “causing death and injury through negligence.” The court applied a good conduct reduction and reduced these sentences to 6 years 8 months each.
The other public official defendants, Mehmet Dişçeken and Emre Arıkan, were acquitted.