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The first hearing in the trial of 32 defendants charged in connection with a devastating hotel fire that killed 78 people opened Monday in the Turkish ski resort town of Kartalkaya.
The Jan. 21 fire at the Grand Kartal Hotel also injured 133 people, making it one of Türkiye's deadliest hotel disasters in recent years. Prosecutors are seeking sentences of up to 1,998 years for 11 defendants, including hotel owners and municipal officials, on charges of "intentional killing and injury."
Among the 19 defendants currently in custody are hotel owner Halit Ergul, his wife and board member Emine Murtezaoglu Ergul, their daughters Elif Aras and Ceyda Hacibekiroglu, and hotel general manager Emir Aras.
Municipal officials including Deputy Mayor Sedat Gulener, Fire Department Director Kenan Coskun, and Provincial Special Administration General Secretary Sirri Kostereli also remain detained.
The trial is being held in a converted gymnasium at Bolu Social Sciences High School due to the large number of defendants and victims' families expected to attend. The 700-seat venue was equipped with security cameras, advanced audio systems, and internet connections for the court's digital system. One thousand police officers have been deployed for security during the proceedings.
The Bolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office investigation has resulted in 41 suspects being detained since the fire, with 28 formally arrested. Nine were later released pending trial.
The indictment seeks maximum sentences of 1,998 years each for the 11 primary defendants on charges of "possible intentional killing" and "possible intentional injury."
An additional 21 defendants, including hotel technical staff, kitchen workers, safety specialists, LPG maintenance personnel, and provincial administration officials, face up to 22 years and six months each on charges of "consciously causing multiple deaths and injuries through negligence."
The fire broke out in the early morning hours at the Grand Kartal Hotel, located in the popular Kartalkaya ski resort in Bolu province. The hotel was reportedly hosting guests during the winter tourism season when the blaze erupted.
Court officials expect the initial hearing to last approximately one week due to the large number of defendants, victims' families, and legal representatives involved in the case. The trial continues as Türkiye grapples with questions about building safety regulations and enforcement in its tourism sector.
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