Testimony of electrician arrested in hotel fire tragedy that claimed 78 lives revealed: 'I have no technical knowledge regarding fire alarm and fire protection systems'

78 citizens lost their lives in a fire that broke out at the Grand Kartal Hotel located in the Kartalkaya Ski Center in Bolu. As part of the investigation into the tragedy, 14 suspects were detained, and hotel owner Halit Ergül and operations manager Emir Aras, who were referred to the courthouse, were arrested.

The testimony of hotel electrician Hüseyin Özer (52), who was arrested as part of the investigation, has been revealed.

In his statement to the gendarmerie, Hüseyin Özer said, "I work as an electrician at the business called Grand Kartal Hotel. I have been working seasonally at the Grand Kartal Hotel for 2 years. Since the day we started working, my teammates and I have been handling all electrical faults and taking precautions for this hotel. We open this hotel regularly every year in December and close it in March. At the beginning of every season, we take all necessary measures regarding the electrical and periodic maintenance of this hotel, and only then do we open it for business."

"I DO NOT KNOW IF THESE STAIRS ARE FIRE ESCAPES"

Regarding whether there were precautions in place at the hotel, Özer said, "There are 2 staircases in the facility, but I do not know if these stairs are fire escapes. There are fire detectors in our hotel, but since I was not at the scene during the incident, I do not know if the alarm system was working or not. Before the incident, on January 20, I left the hotel around 21:30 and went to my residence in Bolu city center. Subsequently, on January 21, around 03:30, a person named Hüseyin, who works as a bartender at the hotel, called me and said, 'A fire broke out in the hotel restaurant.' I told him that I was not at the hotel and that he should call the other electrician colleagues, and that I would direct them as well. Later, I called my teammate named Murat D., who was at the hotel, and told him that a fire had broken out and that they needed to intervene immediately."

"I HEARD FROM MY COLLEAGUES THAT THE FIRE STARTED IN THE RESTAURANT SECTION"

Stating that his teammate Bahadır Ö. also called him and mentioned the fire, Hüseyin Özer said, "I immediately called Altan T., the IT manager, and we set off to go to the hotel together around 03:50. We reached the scene on the same day around 04:30. When I arrived at the scene, I saw that the entire hotel was burning. People were trying to be brought down the stairs by their own efforts. Since I was affected by the smoke, I could not enter, so I helped my friends outside. I do not know where the fire started, but I heard that it started in the restaurant section. I do not know who was working in the restaurant section either. There had never been a fire at the hotel before. I have no technical knowledge regarding fire alarm and fire protection systems."

"I HAVE NO FAULT REGARDING THE INCIDENT"

Stating that the hotel's fire systems were handled by an external subcontractor, Özer said, "I do not know why I am giving a statement regarding this incident. I have nothing to do with the incident. I was not on duty at the time of the incident, and as I mentioned above, I was in Bolu city center at the time. I am just an electrician; my technical manager, Tahsin P., is authorized in the electrical field. I only carry out the tasks assigned to me. I have no fault regarding the incident. I do not accept the accusations against me."

"MY CLIENT IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR INSPECTION"

Özer's lawyer said, "My client is an electrician, not an electronics technician. He only performs simple tasks such as electrical and cable installation. Approximately 500 people work in the family company where my client works. There are a total of 8 people who do these jobs in this family company. My client is at the lowest level in the hierarchy among these employees. My client has a manager above him. My client is not one of the liable parties, whether at fault or not. He is not responsible for inspection. While my client works between 08:00 and 17:00, he was resting at his home at the time of the incident."

"THERE IS NOT EVEN A NIGHT WATCHMAN AT THE SCENE AT NIGHT WHO CAN REACT INSTANTLY"

Stating that the cause of the fire is unknown, Özer's lawyer noted the following:

"Perhaps the fire started from a stove in the kitchen or from a natural gas source. Even though my client is not responsible for electronic components or fire sensors, he was called to testify among so many employees. The reason my client is giving a statement here is that his manager directed him to 'go give a statement to the commander.' He has no connection to the matter whatsoever. It is not an incident that occurred during my client's shift. There is not even a night watchman at the scene at night who can react instantly.

My client should not be held responsible for a fire that may not even have been caused by electricity, acting only under the instructions of managers who earn close to minimum wage in a hotel that does not even have fire escapes. My client has not even traveled abroad for Hajj or Umrah. He only goes out of the city to Ankara for family visits once every 3-4 years. His only assets are the house he lives in and the car he drives. Therefore, there is no suspicion of flight."