18-year prison sentence for contractor! First verdict in cases opened after February 6 earthquakes

The first conviction in the cases opened following the February 6 earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş has been handed down. The contractor of an apartment building where 34 people lost their lives and 10 were injured has been sentenced to 18 years, 1 month, and 15 days in prison.

DETERMINED THAT HE FAILED TO FULFILL HIS OBLIGATIONS

The hearing at the Şanlıurfa 9th High Criminal Court was attended by the lawyers of the detained defendant, contractor Müslüm Demirer, and the lawyers for the victims.

Due to a change in the panel of judges, reports and minutes regarding the expert examination conducted at the wreckage of the apartment building were read during the hearing.

The lawyers for the victims requested that the defendant be sentenced at the upper limit.

The defendant's lawyers stated that they did not accept the presented opinion, noting that their client also suffered losses as he lost his own son in the wreckage of the same building.

In his final opinion, the prosecutor noted that it was determined that the defendant failed to fulfill his obligations according to existing standards during the construction of the apartment building and was found to be at fault.

SENTENCE REDUCED

In the unanimous decision, the defendant was sentenced to 21 years and 9 months in prison for the crime of "causing the death and injury of more than one person through conscious negligence."

Because he also lost his own son in the building in question, his sentence was reduced by 1/6, and it was decided that the defendant be sentenced to 18 years, 1 month, and 15 days in prison.

The decision also recalled that 3 of the 4 people responsible for the construction of the apartment building had passed away in the years prior to the earthquake.

This decision marks the first verdict delivered regarding those responsible for buildings that collapsed in the earthquakes.

News Source: AA