İsias Hotel Owner Ahmet Bozkurt Denies All Charges

Testifying at the trial that started after identity checks, Ahmet Bozkurt, one of the defendants, claimed that he was a businessman, not a contractor, and defended that he did what was said about his building. Bozkurt said, "Column cutting is not an issue."

Lawyer Çetin Arslan, speaking on behalf of the Cypriot families, requested witnesses to be present in the court and pointed out the difficulties of questioning the defendants via video conference in terms of the manifestation of justice and fair trial.

The lawyer also emphasized the necessity of internet access in the court, stating that it is essential to see the details of the case and requested the provision of internet access.

The trial started with the testimony of the first defendant, Ahmet Bozkurt.

Bozkurt expressed his condolences to everyone who lost their lives in the hotel during the earthquake on February 6, the disaster of the century.

Providing information about the construction process of the hotel, Bozkurt explained that he was a businessman, not a contractor. He stated that he was allowed up to 12 floors if there was a change in the number of floors later due to the 1992 floor limit set by the Adıyaman Municipality for the land where the hotel is located.

Bozkurt, stating that the architectural drawings and static calculations of the building were made for 14 floors in 1992, said that the extra floors were canceled later due to the municipality's floor limit.

Explaining that the static calculations were approved without being disrupted, Bozkurt said that they started the construction by making serious efforts to find the radial foundation and irons requested from him due to a fatal accident during the construction.

Bozkurt stated that the construction was stopped due to the fatal work accident that occurred at the construction site, and they restarted the construction in 2001, completing the construction of the building in 2003.

Ahmet Bozkurt stated that he completed his hotel using the incentives from the Development Bank, and his building was approved by inspecting whether it complied with the regulations.

Bozkurt, who denied all the allegations of illegally adding floors and making illegal constructions, emphasized that he had documentary evidence that there was no excess floor.

Bozkurt, who pointed out that he obtained approval that there was no need to strengthen the hotel in the re-evaluations, stated that he framed the stair towers and had an office built on the top floor.

Stating that he covered it with a pergola, closed the sides with glass without using concrete on it, and did not use bricks for the intermediate walls, Bozkurt said that he has a certificate that there is no excess floor.

"IF THERE IS SUCH A CRIME, I AM RESPONSIBLE... I DO NOT ACCEPT THE ACCUSATIONS AGAINST ME"

Bozkurt, emphasizing that he is not a contractor and that he has no guilt in the crime mentioned, stated that if there is such a crime, he should be in prison, and his two sons, who are detained, have no authority, and if there is such a crime, he is responsible. Bozkurt said, "I do not accept the accusations and allegations made against me."

Bozkurt, who said, "I was accused without any information, and accusations were made with hearsay news. I am accused of a crime because of my meticulousness towards the hotel," claimed that it was claimed that the adjacent buildings were attached to the hotel and there was a parking lot under the hotel, but none of these were true.

Bozkurt said, "If there is such a crime, I should be in prison. My two sons have no authority, and if there is such a crime, I am responsible. I do not accept the accusations and allegations made against me."

"THIS IS A CRIME, I AM SORROWFUL, NOT REMORSEFUL"

Bozkurt, stating that he does not have any remorse because he is not guilty, said that he is only sorrowful.

Lawyer Çetin Arslan also asked Bozkurt if he had sought help from an expert in construction for contracting.

Bozkurt said that he had the work done, and his static calculations were made for 14 floors.

Bozkurt, stating that he does not have any remorse because he is not guilty, said that he is only sorrowful.

Lawyer Çetin Arslan also asked Bozkurt if he had sought help from an expert in construction for contracting.

Bozkurt said that he had the work done, and his static calculations were made for 14 floors.

Bozkurt, who claimed that the hotel's debris was tried to be removed immediately, claimed that the necessary equipment was not available, and he could not do anything himself because of the lack of necessary equipment.

Defendant's lawyer also asked why the samples were taken 6 days after the earthquake and why the indictment was prepared according to the Karadeniz Technical University report prepared with the remaining samples 8 months later.

In the trial, the report of Karadeniz Technical University was read to the defendant.

Bozkurt claimed that neither he nor his engineers and architects had any defects, and said that they made efforts to find the radio foundation and columns requested from him, but the construction was stopped because of a fatal accident.

Bozkurt, who claimed that the necessary equipment was not available at the time of the accident and that the necessary tools were provided later, claimed that the enmity continued after the samples were taken.

Bozkurt argued that they were tried to be victimized, and he and his son went to the debris and heard a sound 3 days later, but they could not do anything because there was no necessary equipment.

Bozkurt said, "Those who died in the building did not die from the earthquake, but froze to death," claiming that they died from the cold.

The families of the victims reacted to Bozkurt's statements.