Trial of Public Officials in Grand Isias Hotel Case Postponed to July 16; Detention Requests Rejected

The initial hearing, which took place today, concluded with the announcement of the court’s interim decision at 18:40. The court also rejected calls to file a criminal complaint against the former mayor and to summon him as a witness. Additionally, the request to merge this trial with the ongoing case at the Adıyaman 3rd High Criminal Court was denied, pending the outcome of an appeal process.

A new expert report from Dokuz Eylül University has been requested to determine the degree of fault among the public officials involved.

Following the court’s decision, Turkish Bar Association President Hasan Esendağlı and Ruşen Yücesoylu Karakaya, president of the Champion Angels Memorial Association, addressed the media.

Esendağlı stated that the first session of the trial, in which public officials are accused of conscious negligence, had been completed. He confirmed the court’s decision to await the expert report and maintain judicial control without detaining the suspects, while also denying their request to be exempt from attending future sessions.

Karakaya criticized the repeated demand to prove facts that have already been demonstrated, emphasizing the injustice felt by victims’ families. Referring to past cases of impunity, she said, “Are we going to witness another Hasan Aslan case? Those who served in public office through irregularities continue to walk free, while our loved ones are buried beneath the ground. We will remain here and fight until a verdict of probable intent is issued for all those responsible.”