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Turkey earthquake collapse trials: Sentences issued and releases contested
Legal proceedings regarding buildings collapsed during the February 6 earthquakes in Turkey have reached significant milestones. In the Ezgi Apartment case, which resulted in 35 deaths in Kahramanmaraş, the court sentenced pastry shop owners Sami Kervancıoğlu and Mustafa Pekel to 8 years in prison for conscious negligence. Despite the sentence, both defendants were released under judicial control measures, a decision that has drawn intense criticism from victims' families and legal associations. The prosecution has appealed this release, arguing the decision is contrary to law and that the actions should be classified as 'possible intent' rather than negligence.
In a separate case involving the Serin-2 Apartment in Diyarbakır, which saw 77 deaths, expert reports have identified serious structural failures. These include inadequate concrete quality and the cutting of a structural column, which significantly reduced earthquake resistance.
Additionally, in the Kırçuval Otel case in Malatya, where 21 people died, the prosecutor has requested the arrest of 11 defendants, citing failures in construction and oversight. The prosecution argues that the hotel owners and public officials failed to fulfill their duty of care, particularly following the 2020 Elazığ earthquake.
Entities
Ankara University · Diyarbakır 7. Ağır Ceza Mahkemesi · Ezgi Apartmanı · Kahramanmaraş 4. Ağır Ceza Mahkemesi · Middle East Technical University · Mustafa Pekel · Sami Kervancıoğlu · Serin-2 Apartmanı
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Technical supervisor Mehmet Tekin received a sentence of 6 years and 8 months in prison and a 2-year professional ban. www.yeniyolgazetesi.com · artigercek.com
- [● 5 SOURCES] The prosecution appealed the release of the defendants, arguing the decision was contrary to law. www.yeniyolgazetesi.com · www.cumhuriyet.com.tr · www.marasmanset.com · www.medyafaresi.com · www.odatv.com
- [DISPUTED] The court ordered the release of Sami Kervancıoğlu and Mustafa Pekel under judicial control measures. www.yeniyolgazetesi.com · www.marasmanset.com · artigercek.com · www.karar.com · www.odatv.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The expert report concluded that the concrete quality used in the Serin-2 Apartment was seriously inadequate. www.tv5.com.tr · www.gzt.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] An expert report on the Serin-2 Apartment found that a structural column had been cut, reducing earthquake resistance. www.tv5.com.tr · www.gzt.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Former municipal officials and engineers were sentenced to 4 years, 5 months, and 10 days in prison. www.yeniyolgazetesi.com · artigercek.com
- [DISPUTED] The court sentenced Sami Kervancıoğlu and Mustafa Pekel to 8 years in prison for causing death and injury through conscious negligence. www.yeniyolgazetesi.com · www.marasmanset.com · artigercek.com · www.karar.com · www.odatv.com