100 people died in the earthquake: Verdict reached in the Hisami Apartment case

In the case regarding the Hisami Apartment, which collapsed during the Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquakes on February 6, 2023, in Diyarbakır, resulting in the deaths of 100 people and injuries to 32 others, 2 contractors and 2 landowners who were in custody have been sentenced to 17 years and 6 months in prison each.

At the hearing held at the Diyarbakır 6th High Criminal Court, the imprisoned contractors Mehmet Ali Korkut and Mehmet Meşe, along with landowners Nurettin Özcan and Ahmet Özcan, were present via the Audio and Video Information System (SEGBİS) from the prisons where they are being held.

During the hearing, the plaintiffs stated that they lost their relatives in the rubble of the building during the earthquake and demanded that the defendants, against whom they filed complaints, be punished.

In his opinion on the merits, the public prosecutor expressed his view that the defendants should be punished and that their detention should continue.

Defendant Korkut claimed that he repeated his previous defenses and was innocent, requesting his release and acquittal.

Meşe also claimed that he built the building without any flaws and that the building was damaged as a result of subsequent interventions, stating, "I was also trapped under the rubble in the earthquake. I cannot sustain my life in prison on my own. I cannot use my right hand. My treatment needs to be carried out outside. I have been in custody for a long time. I request my release and acquittal."

Defendant Nurettin Özcan, on the other hand, argued that he was the landowner and did not interfere with any part of the construction, requesting his release and acquittal.

17 YEARS AND 6 MONTHS IN PRISON EACH

Ahmet Özcan also defended that he did not do anything that would add weight to the building and requested a decision for his release and acquittal.

Following the defenses, the court decided to sentence the defendants to 17 years and 6 months in prison each for the crime of "causing the death and injury of more than one person through conscious negligence."

The court decided to continue the detention of 3 defendants, while ordering the release of defendant Meşe due to health problems.