160 suspects remanded in Türkiye over collapse of buildings after quakes
ANKARA (AA) – At least 160 suspects were remanded in custody across Türkiye over the collapse of buildings following the February 6 quakes, according to judicial sources.
Turkish prosecutors charged 564 suspects as part of the investigation into flouting of construction codes, the sources said.
At least 175 suspects were released under judicial control, which means they will regularly have to report to their nearest police station.
In addition, arrest warrants were issued for 71 suspects and detention orders were issued for 61 others.
While 18 people are still in custody by the order of the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, according to the sources, 11 other suspects have died. Six suspects are abroad, the sources added.
According to the latest official figures, at least 42,300 people have died in the magnitude 7.7 and 7.6 earthquakes on February 6 that were centered in Türkiye’s southern Kahramanmaras province.
The Turkish government has made a flurry of arrests of building contractors as opposition figures have criticized the non-adherence to building construction codes.