Hotel owner's son-in-law defends himself with these brazen words! 'I couldn't press the alarm button'

Emir Aras, the general manager of the company who was arrested in connection with the Grand Kartal Hotel fire in the Bolu Kartalkaya Ski Center, which resulted in the deaths of 78 people, claimed that he was on the 7th floor of the hotel with his daughter during the fire, that the floor supervisor called him to say a fire had broken out in the restaurant, and that he went down the stairs and exited the building. He argued that he could not press the alarm buttons because the fire was too intense and that he could not think of anything at that moment.

TESTIMONY EMERGES

The statements made by Aras, who is among the suspects arrested as part of the investigation conducted by the Bolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into the fire that broke out at the Grand Kartal Hotel on January 21, have been obtained from the prosecutor's interrogation.

Aras noted that he is a graduate of information systems and started working at the Gazelle Hotel in 2012, where he handled reservations and also performed computer-related tasks due to his degree.

Stating that he goes to the Grand Hotel every winter and serves as the general manager there, Aras continued as follows:

"However, I actually look after the computers. I check the reservations. Accountants handle the inspections at the hotel. They come from the Provincial Health Directorate at the beginning of the season and conduct inspections with them. They come from the Special Provincial Administration and conduct inspections with them as well. They come from the Ministry of Tourism, and again, the accountants accompany the people from the Ministry of Tourism. The accountant guides the hotel's inspectors. The hotel manager accompanies them. The hotel manager is Zeki Yılmaz. The hotel manager mostly looks after the reception, ensures communication among the staff, and holds meetings. I was also present during the last inspection conducted by the Ministry of Tourism. Those who came from the Ministry of Tourism inspected the hotel in every aspect. I generally do not accompany the inspections. On December 15, 2024, there was an inspection by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. This inspection lasted 5-6 hours. I do not know if there was a municipal inspection. As the hotel manager, I am also responsible for security; I am there because I am the son-in-law."

Stating that he is very sad, Aras said, "I was at the hotel during the fire. I was on the 7th floor, my daughter was with me. My phone rang at night, and I heard someone say, 'There is a fire.' I opened the door. My phone rang again. The floor supervisor was calling. He said there was a fire. He stated that it started in the restaurant. I went down the stairs and went outside. I could not press the alarm buttons because the fire was very intense. I couldn't think of anything at that moment. I do not accept the accusations."

78 people lost their lives in the fire that broke out on January 21 at the Grand Kartal Hotel located in the Bolu Kartalkaya Ski Center.

Regarding the fire, 19 people were arrested, including the owner of the Grand Kartal Hotel, Halit Ergül, the company's general manager Emir Aras, hotel manager Zeki Yılmaz, Bolu Deputy Mayor Sedat Gülener, Acting Fire Chief Kenan Coşkun, Gazelle Hotel General Manager Ahmet Demir, and fire department personnel İrfan Acar.