Turkish Developers Sentenced to Over 18 Years for Negligent Construction in Earthquake Collapse
In the aftermath of the devastating 2023 earthquake that struck southeastern Turkey, two individuals responsible for the construction of a residential complex that crumbled during the temblor have been sentenced to over 18 years in prison.
The case centers on an eight-story building within the Ebrar residential complex in the city of Kahramanmaras, where nearly all of the complex’s 22 buildings collapsed due to the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck before dawn on February 6, 2023. The collapse of this particular building resulted in the tragic loss of 115 lives.
Following a trial, the court found the building’s contractor, Tevfik Tepebasi, and Atilla Oz, the president of the cooperative that constructed it, guilty of "conscious negligence homicide and injury." Both men were sentenced to 18 years and eight months in prison.
Four other defendants were also charged in connection with the collapse. However, three were acquitted due to insufficient evidence, and the fourth individual was tried in absentia.
Tepebasi, who was detained shortly after the earthquake and is facing trial in several other earthquake-related cases, sparked controversy during a hearing last year when he claimed to the court that he should not be held accountable as he "doesn’t know anything about construction."
Families of victims expressed dissatisfaction with the sentences and the acquittal of three defendants. They have announced their intention to appeal the verdict.
The earthquake and its aftershocks ravaged a vast area spanning ten Turkish provinces, killing over 53,700 people in Turkey and at least 6,000 in neighboring Syria. The disaster left 107,000 injured and nearly two million homeless, with 39,000 buildings destroyed and 200,000 heavily damaged, according to Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD).
To date, 189 individuals, primarily found guilty of construction negligence, have been sentenced to prison terms. Additionally, 1,342 trials involving 1,850 defendants are currently underway, according to the Turkish Ministry of Justice.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has condemned negligent contractors, accusing them of cutting corners by using cheap concrete and ignoring basic construction standards. Over 200 contractors and developers were immediately arrested following the quake.
However, investigations have yet to extend to public officials who granted building permits and approved safety inspections. This has raised concerns about the accountability of those responsible for ensuring the integrity and safety of the buildings that collapsed during the earthquake.
