Tanju Özcan files criminal complaint regarding hotel fire: 'It is being conducted incompletely'

In the fire that broke out at the Grand Kartal Hotel at the Kartalkaya Ski Center in the early hours of January 21, 78 people lost their lives and 51 were injured. Of the 28 people detained in connection with the fire, 19 were arrested, while 8 of the 9 people who gave statements were released under judicial control, and 1 was released unconditionally.

Bolu Mayor Tanju Özcan has filed a criminal complaint with the prosecutor's office regarding the fire, targeting the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Bolu Provincial Special Administration, the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, and the insurance agency that issued the fire insurance policy for the Grand Kartal Hotel. The criminal complaint submitted by Özcan to the prosecutor's office included the following statements:

“No statements have been taken from any of the general or local administrators and officials of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. No statements have been taken from any of the administrators and officials of the Provincial Special Administration, which is authorized and responsible for issuing construction permits, occupancy permits, and workplace opening and operating licenses for the burned hotel. The inspection reports for the years 2021 and 2024, mentioned in the statements made by the Minister of Culture and Tourism in front of the hotel where the fire occurred, have not been requested from the relevant ministry and added to the file. Documents regarding the burned hotel have not been requested from the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, and no statements have been taken from any of the general or local administrators and officials of the relevant ministry. 

No statements have been taken from any of the authorized personnel or officials of the private insurance company that provided fire insurance for the burned hotel. The investigation into the fire incident is being conducted incompletely. It is clear that if the investigation is carried out without completing these deficiencies, it will not only be impossible to reach the material truth, but it will also prevent the material truth from emerging. 

Unless the investigation is urgently expanded into the matters we have explained, there is even a possibility that evidence could be tampered with. For all these reasons explained, we have found it necessary to submit this complaint petition to the Bolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. We reserve our right to take legal action against the Bolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and the Minister of Justice, who continues to make statements to the public, if the necessary actions are not taken regarding the relevant complaints.”