Four released over deadly dormitory fire in Turkey’s Adana

ADANA

REUTERS photo

A local court in the southern province of Adana on Jan. 23 ordered the release of four of seven arrested suspects over a deadly fire at a private girls’ dormitory in the Aladağ district that claimed 12 lives, state-run Anadolu Agency has reported.

Lawyers for the four suspects, who are members of the Aladağ Aid Association to Course and School Students, applied to the Aladağ Criminal Court of Peace, demanding their clients’ release.

On Jan. 23, the court ordered the release of the four members identified only as Ramazan D., Ramazan K., Mustafa Ö. and Mahir K. pending trial.

However, three suspects, including dormitory manager Cumali Genç and the head of the association, İsmail U., remain under arrest, according to the court decision.

Meanwhile, the lawyers of the relatives of the victims stated that they would appeal the court decision.

Seven suspects were arrested on Dec. 4, 2016, as part of the investigation launched by the Aladağ Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office over the fire.

Ten students, including Genç’s 4-year-old daughter and an instructor, were killed and 24 others were injured in the fire in the dormitory on Nov. 29, 2016.

The investigation into the incident has been continuing while 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 parliament also agreed to establish a committee regarding the incident in a bid to investigate potential negligence in the case.