Family members speak out on verdict in Böcek family case

The final hearing of the case regarding the deaths of mother Çiğdem Böcek, father Servet Böcek, and their children Masal and Kadir Muhammet Böcek—who came to Istanbul from Germany for tourism in 2025 and lost their lives due to alleged poisoning at the hotel where they were staying—was held at the Istanbul 30th High Criminal Court.

While the court acquitted Rustemsha Batyrov and Muhammed Moeen Ud Dın Chıshtı, it sentenced the other defendants to varying prison terms for the crime of causing the death of more than one person through conscious negligence. The court sentenced hotel manager Hakan Oğlak to 13 years and 4 months, pest control company officials Zeki Kışı and Serkan Kışı to 18 years, and pest control company employee Doğan Caferoğlu to 12 years and 2 months in prison.

Commenting on the prison sentences, Yılmaz Böcek, the father of Servet Böcek, said, "Even if they received 180 years instead of 18, the lives lost will not come back. We would have liked them to receive the heaviest penalty. This is the decision that was made, they ruled. There is an appeal process for this, we will see. It is too early to say anything about what the situation indicates."

Stating that they object to the decision, Çiğdem Böcek's mother, Aysu Çelik, said, "The verdict was delivered and I object to this decision. Will 18 years bring my children back? Will it bring my Muhammed and my Masal back? I am calling out to the President, the Minister of Justice, and the Minister of Health. Didn't our President say he would dry the tears of mothers? Two families have collapsed. It is not just them; we have died too. My daughter studied for a healthcare profession, they did not let my daughter practice her profession. Germany sent my daughter off safe and sound, and they returned my child's funeral. I object to this decision given by the high court. I want you to follow this matter as well," she said.

Çiğdem Böcek's father, Mustafa Çelik, said, "I am not satisfied with the sentence given, but I trust the Turkish justice system. I hope they will receive the punishment they deserve."

The family's lawyer, Yaşar Balcı, stated, "A decision was reached as a result of the trial. The sentence in question was given within the scope of conscious negligence. The court moved away from the lower limit and sentenced them to 18 years in prison due to the death of 4 people and the fact that the company had experienced similar incidents before. We believe this is an act that amounts to intent. For this reason, we will take the decision to the Court of Appeal. We will not let this matter go. The legal process regarding healthcare workers is also ongoing. We are also following that process," he said.

Following the verdict, the lawyer for the complainant family announced that they would take the file to the Court of Appeal. The judicial process in the case is expected to continue in the higher court.