Court Issues Verdict in Isias Hotel Collapse Case

The Third High Criminal Court of Adıyaman has announced its verdict in the case of the Isias Hotel collapse, which tragically claimed the lives of 72 people. Hotel owner Ahmet Bozkurt has been found guilty of criminal negligence and sentenced to 17 years and 17 months in prison.

The sixth and final hearing in this high-profile case lasted the entire day, with the court delivering a summary verdict at 1:00 AM Cyprus time. According to the decision, six defendants were convicted of negligence, while five others were acquitted.

In addition to Ahmet Bozkurt, the following sentences were handed down:

• Mehmet Fatih Bozkurt: 15 years, 28 months, and 28 days
• Erdem Yıldız: 17 years, 17 months, and 7 days
• Halil Bağcı: 7 years, 16 months
• Mehmet Göncüoğlu: 7 years, 16 months
• Hasan Arslan: 15 years, 16 months, and 20 days

Those acquitted included Efe Bozkurt, Seda Zeren, Şule Özbek, Bilge Açık, and Ülviyye Bozkurt.

A delegation from the TRNC, comprising around 100 people, attended the hearing. Among them were relatives of the “Champion Angels,” members of a youth volleyball team who lost their lives in the disaster. A detailed, reasoned judgment is expected to be released in the coming days.

Following the announcement, TRNC Prime Minister Ünal Üstel expressed his determination to continue seeking justice:
“We will file an appeal once the detailed decision is issued. Our fight for justice will not end here. While this chapter of the case may be closed, our mission is far from over.”

The legal proceedings have spanned nearly a year. The first hearing related to the collapse of the Grand Isias Hotel during the earthquake on February 6, 2023—which claimed 72 lives, including 35 Turkish Cypriots—was held at the Adıyaman High Criminal Court in January. Over multiple sessions, the court issued various interim rulings.

The lawyers representing the families of the Champion Angels raised objections to the initial decisions. The second hearing took place on April 26, with around 100 Turkish Cypriots in attendance. Subsequent hearings followed on June 12, October 21, and December 3.

The term “Champion Angels” refers to the members of a youth volleyball team from Famagusta who tragically lost their lives in the February 6 earthquake in Türkiye. The bodies of 35 individuals were recovered from the rubble.