Indictment accepted in Isias Hotel disaster: First hearing on January 3, 2024

The Adıyaman Chief Public Prosecutor's Office's indictment regarding the Isias Hotel, which collapsed during the February 6 earthquakes, has been accepted by the Adıyaman 3rd High Criminal Court.

The first hearing of the case will be held on January 3, 2024.

The indictment prepared by the Adıyaman Chief Public Prosecutor's Office concerning the Isias Hotel, which collapsed in the February 6 earthquakes, was submitted to the 3rd High Criminal Court two weeks ago.

The court panel reviewed and accepted the indictment submitted by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. It was noted that the first hearing of the case, in which 11 people—5 of whom are in custody—will be tried, will take place on January 3, 2024.

In the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office's indictment, it was stated that the suspects are requested to be sentenced to up to 22 years and 5 months in prison for the crime of “causing the death and injury of more than one person through conscious negligence” in accordance with Articles 85/2 and 22/3 of the Turkish Penal Code No. 5237, with the court requested to move away from the lower limit of sentencing.

It was reported that within the scope of the file, property owners A.B., M.F.B., and E.B., Technical Supervisor and Static Project Author E.Y., and Static Project Author H.B. are in custody, while B.A., H.A., M.G., S.Z., Ş.Ö., and U.B. are being tried under judicial control conditions.

An expert report prepared by Karadeniz Technical University regarding the hotel has been released. The report states that the concrete quality was significantly low and the rebar thickness was far below standards. It was determined that no soil survey was conducted for the structure and that river sand was used in the construction of the building, despite it being prohibited.

PLANNED AS AN APARTMENT BUILDING IN 1991

The irregularities in the report are not limited to these; it was emphasized that the building was initially planned as an apartment building in 1991, but was later converted into a hotel after obtaining a license. It was pointed out that an additional floor was added in 2016 to the structure, which was initially built as 9 stories, without obtaining a permit. It was stated that the building lacked a soil report, static calculations, and a static project.

News Source: İHA