The 11th hearing of the case regarding the collapse of Rönesans Residence, built by ANTİS Yapı in Hatay's Antakya district and sold with the slogan "A corner of heaven", during the February 6 earthquakes, was held at Hatay 3rd High Criminal Court.
As a result of the collapse of the residence, 270 people, including Hatayspor football player Christian Atsu, Hatayspor Sports Director Taner Savut and national handball player Cemal Kütahya, lost their lives and 13 people were injured. The bodies of the Hatay Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Devrim Öztürk and some citizens in the wreckage could not be found.
A lawsuit was filed by the Hatay Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against the contractors, building inspection company officials, control personnel, construction technician and site manager for "causing the death of more than one person through conscious negligence". With the death of two defendants, the number of defendants decreased to 6.
“THEY KILLED NOT ONLY MY THREE CHILDREN, BUT ALSO ME”
The statements of the families who lost their relatives were taken in court. A complainant who lost his three children in the wreck said the following in his speech with photographs of his children:
"We went through this for someone's greed for money. They killed not only my three children, but also me. [...] They stole the breath of our children to provide a good future for their children."
Another complainant said, "We buy a house, we die at home. We go on vacation, we die in a fire. We send our children to school, they die at school. I don't want to die in this country."
'POSABLE CASTE' REQUEST FROM FAMILIES
Cemile Incili, who was taken out of the rubble but could not reach the bodies of her sister and nephew, also demanded that the defendants be punished within the scope of "possible intent".
Incili said, "The reason I hold on to life is that these people are punished. We have been fighting for 3 years and 7 months," and added, "Those responsible should be punished for 'possible intent' so that we can start breathing a little."
REQUEST FOR NEW CRIMINAL COMPLAINT FROM LAWYERS
The complainant's lawyer, Seher Eriş, stated that the last expert report in the file also attributed fault to the defendants. Arguing that there were various illegalities from the ground of the building to its static calculations, Eriş demanded that a criminal complaint be filed against Ebru Deniz, who prepared the ground survey.
Eriş also stated that a decision of non-prosecution had previously been issued against the contractor's wife, Dudu Coşkun, and argued that Coşkun should also be tried.
CONTRACTOR COŞKUN: “THE PROBLEM IS A SYSTEM PROBLEM”
Arrested contractor Mehmet Yaşar Coşkun did not accept the accusations against him.
Coşkun demanded his release, saying, "Let a test be done, and if I am at fault, let me be given 30 years." Coşkun argued that it is not fair to place the responsibility only on the contractor and control staff and said, "The problem is a system problem."
'POSSIBLE CASTE' REQUEST WAS REJECTED
The court panel rejected the plaintiff's lawyers' request to obtain additional defense from the defendants within the scope of "possible intent" on the grounds that there was no new evidence that could affect the merits of the file.
The committee decided to continue the detention of the 3 detained defendants. Whether a new expert report will be obtained will be evaluated during the hearing.
The hearing was postponed to October 26.
KABOĞLU: “THIS CASE IS A TEST OF EQUITY INTERGENERATIONS”
Istanbul Bar Association President İbrahim Özden Kaboğlu, who followed the hearing, drew attention to the chain of control and responsibility in the construction sector.
