Investigation into the deaths of the Böcek family: Testimony of the pest control company official and the technician who performed the spraying revealed

The investigation continues into the deaths of mother Çiğdem Böcek (27), father Servet Böcek (38), and their children, 3-year-old Masal and 6-year-old Kadir Muhammet Böcek, who arrived in Istanbul from Germany on November 9, 2025, for tourism purposes and lost their lives on November 13, 2025, due to alleged 'poisoning'.

Within the scope of the investigation, the testimonies of the official from the company that performed the spraying at the hotel and the personnel who carried out the procedure have emerged.

"I DO NOT HAVE A TRAINING CERTIFICATE"

Zeki K., the operator of the pest control company, stated, "The DSS Pest Control and Cleaning Services company has been operating for 6 years. I am the operator. Aside from me, there are 2 employees. I do not know the individuals named Çiğdem Böcek, Kadir Muhammed Böcek, Masal Böcek, Mustafa T., and Reda F.; I heard their names for the first time from the officials due to this incident."

I have never been to the Harbour Suit Hotel. I do not know the owners either. My company, DSS Pest Control and Cleaning Services, has been operating for about 6 years. We do not have a physical workplace. We operate as a home office. We have a page on the internet. Those who see us there contact us. We only perform pest control. We go wherever someone requests service from us. However, we have not sprayed any government institutions to date.

We generally provide services to private businesses and residences. This company is registered in my name, but I do not have any training certification. The chemicals we use for pest control at our workplace are called Alfasc and Cypermetrin. These are Ministry of Health-approved chemicals. The chemicals are mixed with water and sprayed into the area using a spraying machine. The area where these chemicals are used is sealed. Additionally, door gaps, windows, and ventilation shafts are taped to prevent air leakage.

No one should enter the sprayed area for 1 or 2 hours. However, even if someone is inside, these chemicals do not have a lethal effect. We tell people not to enter the areas we have sprayed for the duration of the chemical's effect. This time is 1 or 2 hours. I do not remember where we obtained the chemicals we used. On November 11, 2025, I received a phone call. The caller said they operated a hotel, that there were insects in one of the hotel rooms, and that they wanted to have pest control done for this reason.

I said, 'Okay, I will direct my master technician,' and I directed Doğan C., who works with me. I do not know which hotel Doğan went to to perform the spraying. I only made the phone call and directed Doğan.

"On November 15, Doğan C. told me that the police had called him, that there were poisoning incidents at the hotel where he had performed pest control, and that they had summoned him because of this. My son Serkan, who lives in Fatsa, had also come to Istanbul that day. The two of them went to the hotel to deliver samples. Later, I learned that they had been taken into custody," he said.

"MY COMPANY CANNOT BE AT FAULT"

When asked, "Are there any requirements for your hiring process? What kind of documents and certificates must someone who wants to work with you possess? Do you provide in-service training?" the suspect replied, "There is a requirement to know the job during hiring; if they don't know it, we don't hire them. There is a requirement for a certificate of training in pest control. We do not have any in-service training."

When asked, "In which business sector did you operate before opening this workplace?" the suspect replied, "I am normally a mold maker. I used to do mold making in construction. I am retired. I entered this business after I retired," adding, "My company cannot be at fault for the deaths and injuries that occurred. Furthermore, as a human being, I am saddened that such an incident took place."

"THERE HAVE BEEN NO PROBLEMS UNTIL NOW"

The suspect Doğan C., who performed the spraying at the hotel, said, "I have been working at the DSS company for 2-3 months as needed on a daily basis. When I started at the workplace, I received pest control training from the company officials. They provide this training to all employees anyway. I performed the pest control for the hotel in question in August. In the spraying I did, I mixed the chemicals named 'Alfasc' and 'Cypermetrin' with water, using one capful of each, and applied it by spraying."

While performing this spraying, I only use a dust mask. I did not feel any discomfort myself after the spraying. I was contacted for the hotel to be sprayed again later. Upon this, I went to the hotel to perform the necessary spraying. I spoke with the person at the reception, told them I had come from the pest control company, and that the same room would be sprayed again. I opened the door to room 101, which is located right next to the reception, and went inside.

Inside, I mixed the chemicals named 'Alfasc' and 'Cypermetrin,' which I had used in the previous spraying, with water in the same proportions and performed the spraying with a 1-liter spray pump. During this spraying, we employees take precautions to prevent the smell from leaking by taping the doors of bathrooms and similar areas with ventilation shafts so that the smell of the chemical does not spread within the room. On the day of the incident, before I performed the spraying, I carefully taped the bathroom door to prevent necessary leaks. I even taped the room door when I left after the spraying was finished, and then I left the hotel. I have not had any problems in any of the previous spraying jobs I have done," he said.

News Source: 12punto