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Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said Friday that investigations into a fake diploma ring and a deadly hotel fire that killed dozens are being conducted with full transparency and judicial independence, rejecting claims of cover-ups or interference.
Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said that investigations into a network producing fake diplomas are progressing efficiently and confidentially.
"The secrecy of the investigation was essential to expose this network, this criminal ring," Tunc told reporters following a courthouse groundbreaking ceremony in Gerede.
He said the probe began on Aug. 13, 2024, when a public institution alerted the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. "After the indictment was filed, trials began, and the public became aware. Now, we are witnessing an effective prosecution process," he said.
Tunc also addressed the ongoing trial over the deadly fire at Grand Kartal Hotel in Kartalkaya, which killed 78 people and injured 133.
"We were deeply shaken by this tragedy," Tunc said. "The Bolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office conducted a thorough and effective investigation. The trial is ongoing and will continue in September."
He noted that technical experts and university-appointed forensic teams submitted their reports, which identified responsible parties. Defendants include hotel managers, staff, municipal authorities, and officials from the Bolu Special Provincial Administration.
"The Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Culture granted permission for further investigation into their personnel," he said. "Initial claims that people were being protected from prosecution were false. Everyone responsible will be held accountable."
Tunc criticized opposition figures for allegedly attempting to distort the facts surrounding the hotel fire.
"From the beginning, some attempted to protect their allies, especially individuals linked to the Bolu Municipality," he said. "These early efforts to deny responsibility through disinformation were wrong and misleading."
He emphasized that those responsible for the deaths must face justice: "No one can escape accountability for the loss of 78 lives. The judiciary will act independently and impartially."
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