TBB made a call saying ‘There are reports’: Contractors are trying to escape, ban foreign

As search and rescue efforts continue in buildings destroyed by two major earthquakes that struck Kahramanmaraş on February 6 and affected 10 provinces, an important call has come from the President of the Union of Turkish Bar Associations (TBB), the lawyer Erinc Sagkan.

As of Friday, February 10 at 5:00 p.m., a total of 11,302 buildings in 10 provinces were reported as “destroyed” according to official figures, and Sağkan called on the government and prosecutors to ensure that prosecution investigations related to the earthquake can continue. is carried out effectively and those responsible, especially contractors, do not escape.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE CRIME IN 10 PROVINCES

Speaking to Sozcu.com.tr, Sağkan recalled that Mehmet Yaşar Coşkun, the contractor for the 250-story Rönesans Residence, which was destroyed in Hatay, was caught at the Istanbul airport as he was about to flee to Montenegro and said: “ We have received many reports that the contractors are trying to escape. “Immediate measures must be taken to prevent those responsible from escaping and the evidence is not clouded, especially the ban on leaving the country and the freezing of assets,” he said.

Stating that they, like TBB, filed a criminal complaint with the chief prosecutor’s offices of 10 earthquake-affected provinces yesterday, Sağkan said that they demanded urgent implementation of all measures, especially the ban on going abroad and freezing of assets. , especially for the contractors of the destroyed buildings, the officials of the building inspection company and all those responsible.

Lawyer Erinç Sağkan, President of the Union of Turkish Bar Associations

CALL TO THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE

Stating that tens of thousands of buildings were destroyed or damaged, the columns and beams of these buildings should be sampled within the scope of earthquake investigations, many lawyers are needed to collect these evidences, and they should not be lost, Sağkan stated. . that the prosecutors do not have the opportunity to catch up on their own. They also stated that they wanted to participate in the process without any economic expectations from the Ministry of Justice.

Sagkan said: “If the evidence is not collected and lost, it will go unpunished,” adding that the involvement of lawyers in the evidence-gathering process and the presence of lawyers’ signatures on the minutes can eliminate public concern. and possible doubts. and increase confidence.

Stating that they have not yet received a response from the Ministry of Justice and the General Prosecutor’s Office, Sağkan stated that the Chamber of Civil Engineers and the Chamber of Electrical Engineers should also be involved in this investigation process, and that the rooms in question have the technical knowledge and equipment necessary for the collection of evidence.

‘EVIDENCE SHOULD BE GATHERED BEFORE REMOVING THE WRUSH’

Recalling that President Erdoğan said: “We will build and deliver new houses in the earthquake zone with TOKİ within 1 year”, Sağkan warned that evidence must be detected immediately in destroyed buildings before rubble is removed and construction of new buildings begins. new houses, otherwise an effective investigation cannot be carried out.

Stating that they visited provinces with earthquakes and observed great chaos, Sağkan said that prosecutors’ offices are currently busy with autopsy and funeral procedures, that it is very difficult to collect evidence under these conditions, and that TBB-affiliated cameras and TMMOB should definitely be involved in the process.