Judge Reveals Reasons Behind Reduced Sentence for Contractor Whose Building Collapse Killed 96 in Adana Earthquake

Turkish judicial authorities have revealed detailed reasons cited by the court in reducing the sentence handed down against contractor Hisham Albargoun, the primary defendant in the collapse of the Albargoun building in Adana, southern Turkey, during the devastating February 6, 2023 earthquake.

Turkish courts had previously issued 62 life sentences against Albargoun in addition to 865 additional years of imprisonment, following the building's collapse which claimed 96 lives and injured dozens of others. However, the sentence was later modified through a judicial review and reduced to 22 years and 6 months of imprisonment.

The charges against the contractor centered on severe violations of building standards and structural safety regulations, as Turkish authorities conduct a broad review of files for contractors whose buildings were involved in disasters caused by the earthquake that struck southern Turkey and claimed thousands of victims.