Trial continues regarding the Ebrar Site Selam Apartment

At the hearing held at the 2nd High Criminal Court, the non-detained defendant Ahmet Özdemir, as well as the complainants and the lawyers for the parties, were present.

The detained defendant Sıtkı Okumuş and Ercan Gök, who is detained in another case, participated in the hearing from their respective prisons via the Audio and Video Information System (SEGBİS). 

Following the identification of the complainants, Ercan Gök, whose defense was taken, did not accept the accusations brought against him.

Gök claimed that the building collapsed because the earthquake that occurred on February 6, 2023, was very severe.

Stating that he did not accept the expert report prepared by Karadeniz Technical University, Gök argued that he had examined the photos of the collapsed apartment building in question and that the apartment had tilted to the side.

Claiming that the building tilted due to soil liquefaction, Gök requested his acquittal on the grounds of health problems.

"IT COULD NOT WITHSTAND THE EARTHQUAKE FOR 4 SECONDS"

Detained defendant Sıtkı Okumuş also stated that he had prepared and drawn the projects for many buildings in the city and that many of the projects he had carried out did not suffer damage after the earthquake.

Okumuş argued that they were being punished for an incorrectly conducted soil survey and that it would be impossible for buildings constructed on soft ground to withstand the earthquake that occurred.

Stating that many buildings in the area where the Selam Apartment was located had collapsed, Okumuş claimed that a company had conducted a soil survey in the area where the apartment collapsed after the earthquake and found 30 water wells, and he requested his acquittal.

One of the complainants, Fatma Gonca, stated that the building slid like sand and collapsed, unable to withstand the earthquake for even 4 seconds.

Explaining that she was pulled from the rubble hours later, Gonca noted that both she and her children were injured in the earthquake.

The court panel decided to continue the current detention status of the detained defendants and adjourned the hearing.

In the indictment prepared by the Kahramanmaraş Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, a prison sentence of up to 22 years and 6 months is requested for each of the defendants for the crime of "causing the death and injury of more than one person through conscious negligence." 

News Source: AA