The Turkish judicial system imposes an astonishing prison term of 865 years upon a contractor.
In February 2023, Turkey shakes with loss and ruin. Despite being 200 km from the quake's center, a house caves in, claiming 96 lives. Swiftly, blame falls on the contractor. He stands trial for negligence. The verdict is severe.
Over a year and six months after the catastrophic earthquake in Turkey's south, a builder has been sentenced to 865 years imprisonment, equating to 62 life sentences. According to Anadolu Agency, this constructer was held accountable for building faults in a structure in Adana, which crumbled on February 6 of the preceding year, resulting in the demise of 96 individuals.
The accused, Hasan Alpargün, was found guilty of "deliberately causing the death or injury of more than one individual." He was accused of disregarding building codes in a seismic zone. The contractor initially sought refuge in North Cyprus but submitted himself to authorities a week later. Additionally, 34 other defendants were sentenced to 25 years each, Anadolu reported, citing the lawyer for the bereaved families' representative.
Contractor Invokes Approval
During the trial, professionals testified about significant construction defects, including faulty columns and improper concrete blending. Alpargün refuted the charges, asserting that the construction was authorized by the authorities.
Only one resident of the 14-story building, constructed in 1975, escaped the collapse. This triggered speculation, due to the city of Adana being situated at least 200 kilometers from the quake's origination and escaping extreme tremors.
The devastating earthquake in Turkey claimed more than 53,500 lives. In neighboring Syria, nearly 6,000 people perished. Around 200,000 buildings were so severely damaged they required demolition. The province of Hatay, specifically its capital Antakya, was the most affected.
Following the earthquake, over 260 individuals were detained in Turkey for involvement in the construction of fallen structures. Several accused builders' trials have begun since the start of the year. Some suspects attempted to flee.
Despite the earthquake being 200 km away, the faulty construction of the building in Adana led to its collapse, resulting in 96 deaths. Consequently, the contractor, Hasan Alpargün, was charged with disregarding building codes in a seismic zone and was found guilty of "deliberately causing the death or injury of more than one individual."
