Trial Commences for Beşiktaş Fire that Claimed 29 Lives
The Istanbul 33rd High Criminal Court has set a hearing date for the case related to the tragic fire that occurred in a nightclub located on the lower floors of a building in Gayrettepe Yıldız Posta Caddesi Gönenoğlu Street. The court has scheduled the first hearing to take place on July 17 in the hall opposite Marmara Prison.
According to the indictment issued by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, 29 individuals are listed as victims, 27 as complainants, and 9 as defendants in the case. The indictment reveals that a fire broke out at the nightclub named “Masquerade” on April 2, leading to the loss of 29 lives. Several individuals were also injured in the incident.
The investigation identified the owners of the nightclub business, Şahzade Şekergümüş, Fatma Dörtgül, and Mehmet Menduh Ceylan, along with the responsible manager İsmet Şen. Seven individuals were detained and found to be at fault, leading to the arrest of Sibel Çelik, who was later released after raising objections.
The report following the fire highlighted significant destruction and deformation within the nightclub, with the presence of hazardous materials like electric welding machines and industrial oxygen cylinders. It was noted that the emergency lighting, sprinkler extinguishing system, and fire cabinets were not functional, contributing to the tragic outcome.
The defendants in the case have been sentenced to 2 years and 8 months in prison for their involvement in the incident. The court is seeking further imprisonment of up to 6 months for the defendants. The indictment emphasizes the neglect and violation of safety measures that ultimately led to the devastating loss of life in the nightclub fire.
