The Turkish-German Bocek family were staying at the Harbour Suites Old City hotel in Istanbul’s Fatih district when they fell ill on Nov. 12. They took a taxi to a hospital complaining of nausea and vomiting before returning to the hotel.
The following day they were taken to hospital by ambulance, where 6-year-old Kadir Muhammet and his sister Masal, 3, died. Their mother, Cigdem, died on Nov. 14, while their father, Servet, died on Nov.
17. According to the indictment, medics were initially unable to reach the Bocek family because receptionist Muhammad Moeen had left and locked the hotel entrance door. The seven-minute delay before Moeen returned was cited as a factor contributing to the family’s deaths.
Although the case was initially treated as food poisoning, an inspection found traces of the insecticide phosphine gas on items from the hotel. Phosphine is a highly toxic substance that can cause severe respiratory problems and organ damage. According to the indictment, Dogan Cagferoglu, who sprayed a room below the Boceks’, was not certified to use hazardous chemicals.
The company was also uncertified and used aluminum phosphide, a substance unsuited for residential spaces. Prosecutors are seeking prison terms of between 2 years and 8 months to 22½ years for causing multiple deaths through negligence against hotel owner Hakan Oglak; the owners of DSS Pest Control, Zeki Kisi and Serkan Kisi; DSS worker Cagferoglu; and receptionist Moeen. Another hotel worker, Rustemsha Batyrov, faces 2 to 15 years for the same offense.
According to the indictment, Oglak is accused of approving the use of dangerous chemicals by unqualified personnel. Three other tourists staying at the Harbour Suites at the time also suffered the effects. The now-closed Harbour Suites is one of many low-cost hotels near tourist attractions such as the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia.