4 arrests regarding the death of the Böcek family

The investigation continues into the deaths of mother Çiğdem Böcek (27), father Servet Böcek (38), and their children Masal (3) and Kadir Muhammet Böcek (6), who arrived in Istanbul from Germany on November 9, 2025, for tourism purposes and lost their lives on November 13, 2025, due to alleged 'poisoning'. The suspects' statements to the prosecutor's office have emerged as part of the investigation.

"I do not have any certification regarding pest control work"

Pest control company official, suspect Zeki K., stated in his testimony, "The DSS company belongs to me. I founded this company 6-7 years ago. There is no physical workplace for the company; we work as a home office. Doğan C. works as a day laborer at my workplace. My son Serkan does not work at this workplace. We only registered his social security (SGK) through this company. While Serkan was working with me, he definitely did not perform pest control work. I do not have any certification regarding pest control work. As far as I know, Doğan C. does not have any certification either. Doğan C. performs the pest control jobs. Alfasc and Cypermetrin are used in pest control jobs. I know that these drugs are mixed with water. I do not know where we buy the drugs from. On November 11, I received a phone call. The caller said they operated a hotel, there were insects in one of the rooms, and they wanted to have it sprayed. I directed Doğan C. there. Doğan C. went alone and performed the spraying. I don't even know which hotel he went to. I have no fault in the incident," he said.

"I have no fault in the incident"

Suspect Doğan C., who performed the spraying, said, "I have been working at the DSS Pest Control company for 2-3 months. I had performed spraying at the workplace called Harbour Suits, where the incident occurred, in August 2025. Upon the call received on November 11, I went to the hotel to perform spraying. I performed the spraying process in the room shown by the staff member there. I used drugs named Alfasc and Cypermetrin. I used these drugs by mixing them with water and spraying them. I placed gel cockroach bait in 16-17 areas at certain intervals within the same room. Before spraying, I covered the toilet door and ventilation with paper tape. After spraying, I taped the door of the room and left the hotel. I do not have any certification regarding pest control work. I gave the drugs I used to the police teams. I have no fault in the incident," he stated.

"We had the same company perform spraying in August as well"

Suspect Hakan O. said, "I took over the workplace called Harbour Suits about 5-6 months ago. Because I am a diabetic, I had trouble with my leg, so I haven't been able to go to the hotel for about 3 months. During this period, Halil D. handles all matters related to the hotel. Halil D. called me on November 10 and said there was a complaint about insects in one of the hotel rooms. I told him to call the pest control company. Halil D., following my instructions, contacted the DSS company, which we had previously used for spraying. As a result, spraying was performed on November 11. After the spraying process is finished, the room remains closed for about 2-3 days. Afterwards, it is cleaned and opened for use. Neither I nor my employees have any responsibility regarding the spraying process. We had the same company perform spraying in August as well. We did not experience any problems. I did not ask this company if they had certificates," he stated.

6 arrest requests in the Böcek investigation

The prosecutor's office has completed the testimony process for the 7 suspects detained as part of the investigation launched by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into the deaths of Kadir Muhammet Böcek (6), Masal Böcek (3), mother Çiğdem Böcek, and father Servet Böcek, who were taken to the hospital from the hotel where they were staying in Fatih.

The prosecutor's office referred suspects H.O, D.C, Z.K, S.K, R.B., and M.M.U.D.C. to the criminal judgeship of peace with a request for arrest on charges of "causing death and injury by negligence."

Judicial control was requested for suspect M.K.

Servet and Çiğdem Böcek and their children Kadir Muhammet and Masal, who arrived in Istanbul from Germany on November 9 and stayed at a hotel in Fatih, were taken to the hospital on November 12 due to complaints of nausea and vomiting, and the children could not be saved despite interventions.

The mother, who was treated at Taksim Training and Research Hospital, passed away on November 14, and the father on November 17.

Two tourists staying at the hotel where the family stayed were also treated at the same hospital with complaints of nausea and vomiting. A third person, who was staying in the same room and was with the patients as an attendant, was hospitalized for examination due to a low heart rate.

4 PEOPLE ARRESTED

Of the 7 suspects detained and referred to the courthouse regarding the death of the Böcek family, 4 were arrested. 3 were released under judicial control conditions.

1- H.O. "Hotel Owner" judicial control (travel ban and house arrest)

2- M.M.U.D.C. "Hotel Employee" Arrested

3- R.B. "Hotel Employee" judicial control (travel ban and signing requirement)

4- Z.K. "Pest Control Company Owner" Arrested

5- S.K. "Pest Control Company Employee" Arrested

6- D.C. "Pest Control Company Employee" Arrested

For suspect M.K., for whom judicial control was requested, "Simit Seller," a judicial control decision was made as requested.

The hotel was sealed following the investigation conducted by police teams as part of the inquiry.

Within the scope of the investigation initiated by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, 11 suspects had been detained. The mussel seller Y.D., Turkish delight seller F.T., kokoreç seller E.E., and cafe operator F.M.O., who were detained and taken to the courthouse after their procedures, had been arrested.