No culprit found for the building that became a tomb for 76 people!

In the trial regarding the Atabey Apartment in Kahramanmaraş, where 76 people lost their lives in the earthquake and 2 individuals are being tried with a request for imprisonment, an expert report determined that the weight of a concrete roof built in violation of the building permit was a factor in the collapse. As the person who built the roof could not be identified, the imprisoned contractor was released on the grounds that his level of culpability might change.

CONTRACTORS BLAMED EACH OTHER

Following the collapse of the 8-story Atabey Apartment in the Kayabaşı neighborhood during the earthquakes that occurred on February 6, 2023, 76 people lost their lives and 11 were injured. In the investigation launched into the collapse of the building, contractors Haydar Kurtar (74) and Selahittin Ercan (77) were detained. During his interrogation by the prosecutor, Kurtar stated that the apartment was taken from him by a court order before construction was completed, and therefore he had no responsibility for the building's collapse.

Ercan, on the other hand, stated that they had started the construction of the building as partners with Kurtar, but that Haydar Kurtar left before the 4th floor was finished and that he completed the building himself, claiming he built the apartment in accordance with regulations.

Following their interrogations, Haydar Kurtar was arrested while Selahattin Ercan was released under judicial control measures.

NEW EXPERT REPORT OBTAINED

In the expert report prepared by Karadeniz Technical University as part of the investigation, it was stated that there were deficiencies in the reinforcement detailing of the columns and beams. At the end of the investigation, a lawsuit was filed against Kurtar and Ercan at the 3rd High Criminal Court, requesting up to 22 years and 6 months of imprisonment each for the crime of 'causing the death and injury of more than one person by conscious negligence.' While the trial was ongoing, a new expert report was obtained from Konya Technical University.

CAUSE OF BUILDING COLLAPSE IDENTIFIED, COURT FILES CRIMINAL COMPLAINT

In the report sent to the court by the university, it was stated that a concrete roof was built on the Atabey Apartment in violation of the building permit and that the weight of the roof was a factor in the building's collapse during the earthquake. Following the report, the court filed a criminal complaint with the Kahramanmaraş Chief Public Prosecutor's Office to identify those responsible.

SEARCH FOR THE ROOF BUILDER CONTINUES

While the investigation to identify the person who built the roof continues, imprisoned contractor Haydar Kurtar was released during the 5th hearing of the case. In its justification for the release, the court panel stated that after the new expert report determined that the weight of the concrete roof was a factor in the collapse, the court had filed a criminal complaint to identify those responsible, but no progress had been made, and that there was a possibility that Kurtar's level of culpability could change due to the mentioned issue.

'WHOEVER BUILT THIS BUILDING ALSO BUILT THE ROOF'

Abdulmuttalip Sezer, who lost his son, daughter-in-law, and twin grandchildren in the building, claimed that the roof was not added later but was built at the same time as the building. Sezer said, “Whoever built this building also built the roof. The person who built the building is also known. The license holder and the people who signed the license were not tried at that time. I mean, those who gave the permit, if it was against the permit, why wasn't it inspected? I mean, the building was built but there was no inspection. No inspection was carried out in any way. If the foundation of the building had been solid up to the 5th floor, only the part after the 5th floor would have collapsed. Up to the 5th floor, it is at asphalt level, and after the 5th floor, it looks like a 2-story building. I mean, if the permit was against the construction, why didn't anyone come and inspect it? If we bought this building, are we the ones to blame?” he said.

'THE BUILDING COLLAPSED IN THE 35TH SECOND'

Stating that he was awake during the earthquake and immediately called his son, Sezer described what happened that night as follows:

“I was awake on the night of the earthquake. While the earthquake was happening, I called my own child on the phone at 04:17, and before I could say 'An earthquake is happening, evacuate the building,' their screams came from the apartment, and the building collapsed in the 35th second, communication was cut off. I ran here, and when I arrived, the building was just in ruins, with 5 floors buried under the ground."

News Source: 12punto