35 People Buried in Ezgi Apartment: Red Notice Requested
The trial of the defendants involved in the demolition of Ezgi Apartment in Kahramanmaraş, where 35 people lost their lives during the earthquakes on February 6, 2023, continued at the Kahramanmaraş 4th High Criminal Court.
During the hearing, the undetained defendant Yakup Aktaş, along with the complainants and the party’s lawyers, were present. Detained defendants Mehmet Tekin and Ertan Danacı attended the hearing through the Audio and Video Information System (SEGBİS) from the prison.
The court panel began the hearing by hearing from witnesses, and later on, the complainant’s lawyer, Rezan Epözdemir, requested a red notice be issued to capture the fugitive defendants, Sami Kervancıoğlu and Mustafa Pekel, who were officials of the patisserie operating in Ezgi Apartment.
The prosecutor also requested a red notice for the fugitive defendants and urged that the detained defendants remain in custody.
The hearing proceeded with statements from the defendant’s lawyers, with Ersan Şen arguing that his clients, Sami Kervancıoğlu and Mustafa Pekel, had no involvement in cutting columns or beams. He requested the arrest warrant be lifted.
However, the court panel rejected the request for a red notice for Sami Kervancıoğlu and Mustafa Pekel and decided to continue the detention of the defendants, postponing the hearing to May 3.
The indictment of the case outlined that 35 people died and 1 person was injured in the collapse of Ezgi Apartment during the earthquake. The fugitive defendants and one of the detained defendants were facing sentences for intentional murder and intentional wounding, while the other detained defendants faced charges for causing death and injury through conscious negligence.
The case continues as the legal proceedings move forward in the pursuit of justice for the victims of the tragic incident.
