Critical development in the Sueda City Site case: Former deputy mayor criminal complaint

65 people lost their lives and 14 people were injured as a result of the collapse of Sueda City Site Block B in Adıyaman's Central district during the February 6 earthquakes.

Regarding the demolition of the building, Adıyaman Chief Public Prosecutor's Office first filed a lawsuit against the contractor Mehmet Murat Bulut, the contractor, architectural project designer and architectural technical responsible Muhittin Büyük, and the construction site manager, static project designer and static technical responsible Ömer Yılmaz, for the crime of "causing death and injury through conscious negligence".

Then, a lawsuit was filed against Aysel Ertemir, Bedir Leblebici, İrfan Günay Çelik and Mehmet Bağcı, who worked in Adıyaman Municipality, for "causing death and injury by negligence" and the two files were combined.

VICTIM LAWYERS: DEFENDANT YILMAZ SHOULD BE ARRESTED

Those who lost their relatives in the earthquake and the lawyers of the parties attended the 10th hearing held at Adıyaman 1st High Criminal Court.

Lawyers of the victims found the release of Ömer Yılmaz, who had been on the run for more than 3.5 years and who was released under judicial control after his statement was taken before the 10th hearing, as unacceptable and demanded his arrest.

Defendant Ömer Yılmaz's lawyer also requested that an expert report be obtained again, arguing that his client was only the static project designer and had no responsibility in the field.

CRIMINAL COMPLAINT FROM THE COURT AGAINST TWO NAMES

Stating that there was a request for an extended investigation, the Public Prosecutor requested, in line with Atatürk University's expert report dated April 28, 2026, to file a criminal complaint against Mahmut Özbek, who was the Deputy Mayor of Adıyaman at the time the building was built, and Ferhat Bülent Özer, who worked as a civil engineer in the municipality at that time, to be added as defendants to the file by issuing an indictment, to take the statements of the parties who were not heard, and to reject the arrest requests.

The court panel ruled to file a criminal complaint against Özbek and Özer in line with the request of the Prosecutor and to combine the file if an indictment is issued.

The committee also decided to continue the judicial control of the defendants, reject their arrest requests, and hold the next hearing on January 21, 2027.