Minister Ersoy denies permission for investigation into Kartalkaya fire

Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy has denied permission for the investigation of bureaucrats and ministry employees regarding the fire disaster at the Grand Kartal Hotel.

A new development has emerged regarding the fire disaster at the Grand Kartal Hotel, located at the Kartalkaya Ski Center in Bolu, where 78 people, including 36 children, lost their lives. Although the expert committee held the Ministry of Culture and Tourism "primarily responsible" for the disaster, Minister Ersoy did not grant permission for the investigation of the bureaucrats and ministry employees involved.

According to a report by Uğur Şahin from DW Türkçe, the families of Yiğit Gençbay and Alp Mercan, who lost their lives in the disaster, applied to the Ministry of Tourism on February 27, requesting that those responsible be identified and a preliminary investigation be conducted into them. Medical student Gençbay and mechanical engineer Mercan had initially escaped the fire that broke out on January 21 alive, but lost their lives after returning to the hotel to save others.

"NO FAULT FOUND WITH MINISTRY EMPLOYEES"

Following this application, an investigation was conducted into Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Nadir A., General Manager of Investments and Enterprises Neşe Ç., Deputy General Manager of Investments and Enterprises Elçin Ş.Ö., former General Manager of Investments and Enterprises Şennur A.D., former Deputy General Managers of Investments and Enterprises Bülent Ç. Ç. and Elçin Ş.Ö., Deputy General Manager and Acting Head of the Board of Controllers Levent K., Chief Controllers Ramazan A., Melda A., Şule A. A., Barış B., Controller Ezgi D., and intern controller Abdülkadir E.

The decision was made on April 16 with the signature of Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy. Ersoy decided "not to grant permission for an investigation" into the aforementioned bureaucrats and ministry employees.

The prosecution of public officials is carried out under Law No. 4483. According to the law, the prosecution of a bureaucrat or ministry employee accused of a crime related to their duties is subject to the permission of the minister.

News Source: 12punto