Court rules on Güneşli Kocabaş Site earthquake tragedy
The decision hearing in the case regarding the tragic earthquake that resulted in the death of 69 people at Güneşli Kocabaş Site has concluded with a ruling from Kahramanmaraş 2nd High Criminal Court.
The defendants Tebernüş Özyurt, Abdullah Üren, Ökkeş Say, and unarrested defendants Ahmet Say, Ökkeş Kır were present at the hearing. Other undetained defendants Kerim Sönmez, Mücahit Kar and Abdulkadir Tatar participated via Audio and Video Information System (SEGBİS) from their respective provinces, while unarrested defendant Ali Taş did not attend.
During the hearing, the defendants maintained their innocence and requested acquittal. The court ruled to acquit Ahmet Say, but sentenced Ökkeş Say, Ökkeş Kır, and Ali Taş to 14 years, 5 months and 10 days in prison for “causing the death and injury of more than one person through conscious negligence”.
Additionally, defendants Abdulkadir Tatar, Mücahit Kar, Abdullah Üren, Kerim Sönmez, and Tebernuş Özyurt were sentenced to 12 years, 2 months and 20 days in prison for “causing the death and injury of more than one person by negligence”. The court also decided to arrest the pending defendants Ökkeş Kır, Ali Taş, Abdulkadir Tatar, Mücahit Kar, and Kerim Sönmez.
The tragic incident occurred during a 7.7 magnitude earthquake centered in Pazarcık, where the Güneşli Kocabaş Site 7th Block collapsed, leading to the loss of 69 lives in the Aslanbey District of the central Dulkadiroğlu district. The Kahramanmaraş Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office filed a lawsuit against the 9 defendants involved in the demolition of the site.
