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4 people convicted over insecticide deaths of tourist family during reported bedbug infestation at Istanbul hotel
CBS News • • general
Key Points:
- A Turkish court convicted three pest control workers and a hotel owner for the deaths of a German family poisoned by insecticide at a hotel in Istanbul, sentencing them to 12-18 years in prison.
- The Bocek family fell ill from toxic phosphine gas used to treat a bedbug infestation, which seeped into their room via a ventilation duct, leading to the deaths of two children and their parents in November.
- The hotel owner, Hakan Oglak, received a 13-year and four-month sentence, while pest control company owners and an employee were sentenced to 18 and 12 years respectively; all plan to appeal.
- The incident highlighted concerns about hotel safety standards in Turkey, prompting calls for stricter oversight, especially after a deadly hotel fire earlier in 2025.
- Harbour Suites Old City, now closed, was a budget hotel located near major Istanbul tourist sites, raising questions about safety in low-cost accommodations.
