It became a grave for 78 people: Bolu Kartalkaya trial begins

The first hearing of the case opened regarding the fire that broke out at the beginning of 2025 at the Grand Kartal Hotel in the Bolu Kartalkaya Ski Center, which caused a major outcry, was held. The hearing was conducted by the Bolu 1st High Criminal Court in a hall specially set up in the sports hall of the Bolu Social Sciences High School.

The defendants include the hotel owner, some hotel managers, municipal officials, and technical personnel. In the trial where a total of 32 defendants are being tried, 19 defendants attended the hearing while in custody.

INTENSIVE SECURITY MEASURES TAKEN

Extensive security measures were taken in and around the hall before the hearing. Police teams closed the streets and avenues around the campus to vehicle traffic, and participants were admitted to the hall after being searched at two separate points.

Law enforcement officers maintained a tight grip on the hall and its surroundings. The hearing was recorded via the Audio and Video Information System (SEGBİS).

INJURED AND FAMILIES ALSO IN THE HALL

Some of the people injured in the fire and the relatives of those who lost their lives also attended the hearing. During the hearing, which saw emotional moments, a plaintiff fainted and collapsed to the ground after the defendants were brought into the hall. Health personnel called to the scene intervened and removed the person from the hall for treatment.

The hearing was attended by CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, Democrat Party Chairman Gültekin Uysal, Zafer Party Chairman Ümit Özdağ, and Anahtar Party Chairman Yavuz Ağıralioğlu.

FORMER AKP MP WHO LOST RELATIVES IN THE FIRE REBELS

Former AKP Bolu MP Mehmet Güner, who lost 8 relatives in the fire disaster, requested to speak before the hearing began. Upon the judge granting him the floor, Güner said, "I will not speak as a lawyer, so I am taking off my robe. I do not want this case to be politicized. As a lawyer, I believe in the individual nature of crime. Those who are guilty in this case should receive the maximum penalty. 8 of the 78 lives were my own. My son was a Boğaziçi graduate. Every single life was precious. How did you allow 78 lives to burn while saving your own child? We will certainly strive for you to be punished in the most severe way, but we will also hold you accountable in the next world. The defendants brought before the court are only a portion of the guilty. But in this incident, the Minister of Tourism and the officials of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security are just as guilty as the people who are least guilty. We will do our best to ensure they are also tried."

HEARING ADJOURNED

Upon the Chief Judge announcing that the indictment would be read, the lawyers for the plaintiffs objected to the hearing on procedural grounds. Plaintiff lawyer Ömer Kavili stated that the audio, information, documents, and images obtained in the file were not placed in accordance with the procedure, saying, "No number or sequence number was given. These numbers should have been given, and each document was not certified as being true to the original. Your court does not have the authority to open this hearing today."

Request for imprisonment for 13 people for 78 counts of "killing with possible intent" and "intentional injury with possible intent"

The indictment states that Grand Kartal Hotel owners, company board members and managers Halit Ergül, Emine Murtezaoğlu Ergül, Ceyda Hacıbekiroğlu, Elif Aras, Emir Aras, Zeki Yılmaz, Ahmet Demir, Kadir Özdemir, Cemal Özer, Mehmet Salun, as well as Bolu Deputy Mayor Sedat Gülener, Acting Fire Chief Kenan Coşkun, and firefighter İrfan Acar are "responsible with possible intent."

The indictment also requests that 13 people be sentenced to prison for 78 counts of "killing with possible intent" and "intentional injury with possible intent."

It is requested that hotel technical staff Tahsin Pekcan, Hüseyin Özer, and Bayram Ütkü, as well as kitchen staff Reşat Bölük, Enver Öztürk, and Faysal Yaver, occupational safety experts Kübra Demir and Ece Kayacan, Bolu Provincial Special Administration Secretary General Sırrı Köstereli, Deputy Secretary General Bünyamin Bal, Licensing and Inspection Manager Yeliz Erdoğan, and former Licensing and Inspection Manager Mehmet Özel be sentenced to up to 22 years and 6 months in prison each for the crime of "causing the death and injury of more than one person through conscious negligence."

WHAT HAPPENED?

In the fire that broke out on January 21 at the Grand Kartal Hotel in the Bolu Kartalkaya Ski Center, 78 people lost their lives and 133 people were injured.

In the 98-page indictment prepared by the Bolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and accepted by the 1st High Criminal Court, a total of up to 1998 years in prison is requested for each of the hotel owners, company board members and managers Halit Ergül, Emine Mürtezaoğlu Ergül, Ceyda Hacıbekiroğlu, Elif Aras, Emir Aras, Zeki Yılmaz, Ahmet Demir, Kadir Özdemir, Cemal Özer, Mehmet Salun, as well as Bolu Deputy Mayor Sedat Gülener, Acting Fire Chief Kenan Coşkun, and firefighter İrfan Acar for 78 counts of "killing with possible intent" and "intentional injury with possible intent."

It is also requested that hotel technical staff Tahsin Pekcan, Hüseyin Özer, and Bayram Ütkü, kitchen staff Reşat Bölük, Enver Öztürk, and Faysal Yaver, occupational safety experts Kübra Demir and Ece Kayacan, receptionist Yiğithan Burak Çetin, Mudurnu Energy Industry and Trade Inc. officials İbrahim Polat and İsmail Karagöz, FQC Global Certification Inc. official Ali Ağaoğlu and his employee Aleyna Beşinci, LPG installation maintenance personnel Doğan Aydın and Muharrem Şen, Provincial Special Administration Secretary General Sırrı Köstereli, Deputy Secretary General Bünyamin Bal, Licensing and Inspection Manager Yeliz Erdoğan, and former Licensing and Inspection Manager Mehmet Özel be sentenced to up to 22 years and 6 months in prison each for the crime of "causing the death and injury of more than one person through conscious negligence."