Breaking News: New expert committee inspects hotel in Bolu where fire tragedy occurred

78 citizens lost their lives in a fire that broke out at the Grand Kartal Hotel, located in the Kartalkaya Ski Center in Bolu. Within the scope of the investigation into the tragedy, 9 out of 14 people detained have been arrested.

While the investigation continues, a new expert committee consisting of academics from ITU, appointed by the Ministry of Justice, arrived at the hotel where the fire occurred for the second time.

In addition to the committee, prosecutors also participated in today's inspections.

The committee, which entered the building where security measures were taken accompanied by gendarmerie, fire department, and AFAD personnel, carried out an inspection for approximately 3.5 hours.

After their inspections, the committee left the area with evidence bags.

ÖZGÜR ÖZEL HAD SHARED THE PRELIMINARY REPORT

Following the fire tragedy, a 'responsibility' debate had begun between the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the CHP-run Bolu Municipality.

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel had shared the preliminary expert report prepared regarding the tragedy with the public.

In a post on his X account, Özel recalled the statements of Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya and Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç and stated, "I am receiving reports that pressure is being put on the 7-person committee whose names are known and on public officials who prepared this preliminary report, in which our Bolu Municipality is not mentioned, it is determined that the fire started on the 4th floor of the hotel, and the responsible parties and those at fault are listed one by one, that the report is not being accepted, and even that the expert committee will be dismissed. I am sharing 3 relevant pages of the report, the entirety of which is in our possession, with the public. I warn the government, especially the 2 relevant ministers, regarding this historical mistake, burden, and crime."

YILMAZ TUNÇ'S 'PIRATE REPORT' STATEMENT

Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç, who called the preliminary expert report shared by CHP leader Özel a 'pirate text', stated, "It is a great irresponsibility and lack of conscience to try to mislead the public and influence the investigation by sharing a pirate text that has no official status and has not been submitted to the Bolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, which is conducting the investigation, as if it were a report."

ÖZEL'S RESPONSE TO TUNÇ REGARDING THE PIRATE REPORT: THAT REPORT IS THE GUARANTEE OF THE NATION'S SEARCH FOR JUSTICE

Özel reacted harshly to Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç, who called the preliminary expert report he shared 'pirate'.

Claiming that the Ministry of Justice told the expert committee, 'You withdraw from the duty, let another committee come,' Özel used the following expressions in his statement:

"The Minister of Justice called this report pirate. What does calling a report pirate mean? He is not saying it is fake or untrue. How can something be pirate? It must be a report written by unauthorized people. The authorization letter is on the first page of the investigation file with the wet signatures of the experts. This means the committee is not pirate, the report is not pirate... What is he calling pirate to justify calling it a pirate report? The method of acquisition...

If something is seized by force without the owner's consent, it is called a pirate activity. In other words, the report is real, the method of acquisition is piracy. That report is not the property of the Minister of Justice; it is the guarantee of the nation's search for justice. Our making that report public is due to them saying they will not accept the report and will appoint a new committee. What we are doing is defending justice in the search for justice."

News Source: AA