New details emerge in Kartalkaya fire: Striking findings regarding the expert witness

New details are coming to light regarding the fire that broke out at the Grand Kartal Hotel in Bolu Kartalkaya on January 21. In the tragedy where 78 people lost their lives according to official statements, it has been revealed that a total of 81 body bags were used during the crime scene investigations.

The fact that the expert report prepared after the fire was described as "pirated" by Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç has fueled the controversy.

79 BODY BAGS RECORDED IN THE FIRST REPORT

According to the report by Can Bursalı from Gazete Duvar, it was written in the initial records that 79 body bags were used during the investigations conducted at the scene after the fire.

However, on January 22, two public prosecutors and crime scene investigation teams who returned to the scene determined that the total number of body bags had reached 81.

In the second examination, it was noted that two unidentified bodies were sent to two field tents set up outside the hotel. It was stated that the human remains in these tents were placed in body bags numbered 80 and 81.

'PIRATED' LABEL ON EXPERT REPORT

Discussions regarding responsibility gained momentum after the fire. CHP Chairman Özgür Özel shared some sections of the preliminary expert report on his social media account on January 24, holding the Ministry of Tourism, the Bolu Special Provincial Administration, and the Bolu Provincial Directorate of Environment and Urbanization responsible.

Özel claimed that pressure was put on the expert committee, the report was not accepted, and attempts were made to remove the experts from their duties.

Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç responded to these statements by Özel via social media. Stating that the report was not submitted to the Bolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and was not valid, Tunç described this report as "pirated."

STARTED DUTY DURING THE FIRE

The Bolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office appointed a 7-person expert committee to conduct an investigation at the scene on the morning of January 21, when the fire broke out.

The committee included experts in electricity, construction, machinery, and occupational health and safety, as well as two architects. Although the fire started at 07:30 in the morning, the committee could only begin its investigations at 18:00 in the evening and prepared a 13-page report.

EXPERTS SUBMITTED THE REPORT AND THEN...

The report prepared by the committee was presented to the authorities on January 23. However, on the same day, the experts applied to the Bolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office one by one and requested to be relieved of their duties.

Citing heavy workload, health problems, and family reasons, the experts wanted to withdraw from their duties immediately after the report was submitted.

It was noteworthy that the experts applied to be dismissed at their own request one day before CHP Chairman Özgür Özel's statement on January 24, in which he said, "I am hearing rumors that the expert committee will be removed from duty." The applications were accepted by the Bolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

MINISTRY AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS HELD RESPONSIBLE

In the expert report, which Minister of Justice Tunç described as "pirated," it was stated that the hotel did not have sufficient safety measures against fire, and the following institutions were held responsible: