Adana prosecutor seeks up to 15 years in jail for deadly dormitory fire suspects

ADANA

An indictment prepared by the Aladağ Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has pressed involuntary manslaughter charges against seven suspects over the deadly dormitory fire in the southern Turkish province of Adana, seeking prison terms between two and 15 years, media outlets reported on May 4. 

Seven suspects were arrested on Dec. 4, 2016, as part of the investigation launched by the prosecutor’s office over the fire at a private girls’ dormitory in Adana’s Aladağ district, which claimed lives of 11 children and one adult.

Ten students, an instructor, and the dormitory manager’s 4-year-old daughter were among those killed in the fire on Nov. 29, 2016.

On Jan. 23, the court ordered the release of the four suspects pending trial, who are members of the Aladağ Aid Association to Course and School Students. The other three suspects, including dormitory manager Cumali Genç and the head of the association, identified only as İsmail U., remain under arrest.

The initial reports by a team of experts suggested that major negligence played a role in the incident. 

On Dec. 1, 2016, the four political parties in the Turkish Parliament agreed to establish a committee regarding the incident in a bid to investigate potential negligence in the case.