'Very lenient' – Turkish court sentences hotel owner and architect to prison in earthquake trial

A Turkish court on Wednesday sentenced six people to prison, including the owner and engineer of the Essis Hotel, which collapsed in a devastating earthquake in 2023, sparking anger in the north, according to reports on Thursday.

The collapse of the hotel in the city of Adiyaman in southern Türkiye killed 72 people, including 35 Turkish Cypriots who represented the Famagusta volleyball team.

Of the 11 defendants, five were found innocent, including the hotel owner's daughter, Effie Bozkur.

Agence France-Presse reported that the court in Adiyaman sentenced hotel owner Ahmed Bozkurt to 18 years and five months in prison on charges of “causing the death or injury of more than one person through willful negligence.”

His son, Mehmet Fatih Bozkurt, was sentenced to 17 years and four months in prison, and architect Erdem Yilmaz was sentenced to 18 years and five months in prison on the same charges.

North Korean Prime Minister Unal Ostell described the sentences as too lenient and said they would take the case to a higher court.

“The hotel owners did not receive the punishment we expected… However, everyone was sentenced, from those responsible for building the hotel to the architect. This is partly what made us happy.”

Rosine Karakay, who heads the Keeping the Champion Angels Alive charity, which commemorates murdered children, said she was disappointed with the outcome, according to reports in the North.

She described the prison sentences as a “first” and stressed that they will continue their struggle until justice is truly achieved.

“We made a promise to our loved ones and we will keep it.”

The families have fought to charge those accused of intentionally killing the 72 victims, rather than causing the deaths through negligence.

More than 50,000 people died in Türkiye and Syria in the earthquake that occurred on February 6, 2023.

About 160,000 buildings collapsed or were severely damaged, displacing 1.5 million people.

A group of 39 Turkish Cypriots, including children, teachers and parents, had traveled to Adiyaman to participate in a volleyball tournament when the earthquake occurred.

Four fathers were the only survivors among them. They were able to pull themselves out of the rubble, while 35 others were killed, including all children.

A scientific analysis by Isaias, which has been operating since 2001, found that gravel and sand from the local river had been mixed with other building materials to form the columns supporting the building.

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