Defense attorney for detained defendant in Grand Kartal Hotel tragedy: 'My client is an idiot'

The third hearing of the trial concerning the Grand Kartal Hotel fire in the Kartalkaya Ski Center in Bolu, which resulted in the deaths of 78 people and injuries to 137 others, continues on its third day with the defendants' statements regarding the merits of the case. The trial involves 32 defendants, 20 of whom are in custody. The courtroom was attended by detained and non-detained defendants, plaintiffs, relatives of those who lost their lives in the fire, and attorneys for the parties.

The hearing began with the statement of detained defendant Sırrı Köstereli, the Secretary General of the Special Provincial Administration. Stating that he stands by his previous statements, the detained defendant Köstereli said, "The Grand Kartal Hotel opened in 1999 with a tourism operation certificate. The hotel applied to the Special Provincial Administration in 2001, and the license was issued by the administrators of that period after the documents were provided.

There is a clause stating that it is inspected only by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Therefore, it was said, 'You issue the license, we will conduct the inspection.' I am not here due to negligence. Duties not defined for me in the law are being imposed on me by the inspectors.

The inspectors acted with prejudice during their investigation and acted solely with the mindset of 'We will take action against you.' I was taken into custody and arrested on the day the investigation permit was granted, before it was even notified to us. I believe I am here unjustly. I have nothing to do with this incident. I have no connection to this hotel. I believe that justice will be served. I request my acquittal and release," he said.

DETAINED DEFENDANT'S ATTORNEY: MY CLIENT IS AN IDIOT

Kadir Özdemir's attorney, Serbülent Baykan, stated that they are not requesting his client's release or acquittal.

Attorney Baykan said, "My client is an idiot. I tell him this to his face as well. He can even sue me. I am acting as his lawyer as a favor. I feel the pain of this tragic event in my heart. This is a massacre.

There is intentional homicide here, clearly. Who came and inspected this hotel? The Ministry of Tourism. You came there, ate and drank without checking this, and then told the hotel it was 'suitable.'

May God damn whoever is guilty. There is intent here, there is murder. A thousand-year sentence is too little for my client, give him 5 thousand years. But also put those who came there from the ministry on trial. I am not doing this for money. Following the instructions of Emir Aras, our idiot went and filed the application. Let him go to jail for a while, and stop taking on other people's power of attorney," he said.