{"id":58584,"date":"2026-04-21T07:23:50","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T11:23:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/6-stand-trial-in-istanbul-over-insecticide-poisoning-deaths-of-turkish-german-family\/21\/04\/2026\/"},"modified":"2026-04-21T07:23:50","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T11:23:50","slug":"6-stand-trial-in-istanbul-over-insecticide-poisoning-deaths-of-turkish-german-family","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/6-stand-trial-in-istanbul-over-insecticide-poisoning-deaths-of-turkish-german-family\/21\/04\/2026\/","title":{"rendered":"6 stand trial in Istanbul over insecticide poisoning deaths of Turkish-German family"},"content":{"rendered":"

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ISTANBUL (AP) \u2014 Six hotel staff and pest control workers went on trial in Turkey on Tuesday, charged with causing the deaths of a family-of-four<\/a> from Germany poisoned by insecticide while on vacation in Istanbul, media reported.<\/p>\n

The Turkish-German Bocek family were staying at the Harbour Suites Old City hotel in Istanbul\u2019s Fatih district when they fell ill on Nov. 12, the state-run Anadolu news agency said.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The Boceks\u2019 deaths raised concerns over hotel safety standards in Turkey and prompted calls for stricter oversight. In January last year, 78 people were killed<\/a> when a fire swept through a ski resort hotel in northwest Turkey.<\/p>\n

Medics were initially unable to reach the Bocek family because, disturbed by the smell from the insecticide-treated room, receptionist Muhammad Moeen had left and locked the hotel entrance door, according to an indictment presented to the Istanbul 30th High Criminal Court.<\/p>\n

Images published at the time showed Servet Bocek carrying his daughter into the reception area before frantically trying to break the glass door.<\/p>\n

The seven-minute delay before Moeen returned to open the door was cited in the indictment as a factor contributing to the family\u2019s deaths, as were the lack of precautions while spraying and the absence of staff to respond to emergencies.<\/p>\n

Although the case was initially treated as food poisoning, an inspection found traces of the insecticide phosphine gas on towels, masks and swab samples taken from the hotel. Phosphine is a highly toxic substance that can cause severe respiratory problems and organ damage.<\/p>\n

The now-closed Harbour Suites is one of many low-cost hotels lying within walking distance of tourist attractions such as the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia.<\/p>\n

Prosecutors are seeking prison terms of between 2 years and 8 months to 22\u00bd 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 Dogan Cagferoglu; and receptionist Moeen.<\/p>\n

Another hotel worker, Rustemsha Batyrov, faces 2 to 15 years for the same offense.<\/p>\n

Cagferoglu, who sprayed the ground floor room immediately below the Boceks\u2019 room, was not certified to use hazardous chemicals, according to the indictment.<\/p>\n

The company was also uncertified and used aluminum phosphide, a substance unsuited for residential spaces. The indictment also says it employed unauthorized staff and failed to take safety precautions.<\/p>\n

Oglak is accused of approving the use of dangerous chemicals by unqualified personnel, failing to take safety measures during the spraying and failing to evacuate the hotel.<\/p>\n

Three other tourists staying at the Harbour Suites at the time also suffered the effects of poisoning but recovered after treatment.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, it emerged Tuesday that two Dutch teenagers died from phosphine poisoning in another hotel in Istanbul\u2019s Fatih district a few months before the Boceks.<\/p>\n

Jamil Yusuf Mohammed, 17, and his 15-year-old brother Yazdani were found dead in their room in the Grand Sami Hotel on Aug. 22 last year. Their father, Rashid, recovered after hospital treatment.<\/p>\n

Five hotel staff and pest control workers have been charged and jailed pending trial, Demiroren News Agency reported.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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ISTANBUL (AP) — Six hotel staff and pest control workers went on trial in Turkey on Tuesday, charged with causing the deaths