Lawsuit filed against 4 defendants over the collapse of an apartment building in Hatay that killed 43 people

A lawsuit has been filed against 4 non-detained defendants, seeking up to 22 years and 6 months in prison each, regarding the collapse of the Selim Köse Apartment building in the Hatay earthquake, which resulted in the deaths of 43 people.

The investigation conducted by the Hatay Chief Public Prosecutor's Office Earthquake Investigation Bureau has been completed following the collapse of the 9-story building on Uğur Mumcu Street in the Odabaşı neighborhood of the central Antakya district during the first earthquake on February 6, 2023.

SENTENCE REQUEST FOR NON-DETAINED DEFENDANTS

The indictment, prepared as a result of the investigation and accepted by the Hatay 1st High Criminal Court, seeks up to 22 years and 6 months in prison for each of the non-detained defendants—contractor H.K., building inspection firm official and static application auditor E.E., inspection personnel G.A.T., and site manager M.E.—on charges of "causing the death of more than one person through conscious negligence."

The expert report included in the indictment stated that low-quality materials were used in the construction of the building where 43 people lost their lives, and that the attic floor had also been expanded.

The trial process for the defendants will begin in the coming days.