Owner of collapsed residential complex arrested in Istanbul airport

The owner of Renaissance Residence, an apartment complex destroyed by the quake in Turkey's Hatay province, has been detained at one of Istanbul's airports.

Mehmet Yasar Coskun was stopped at Sabiha Gokcen airport attempting to travel to Montenegro, Anadolu Agency reported.

The 12-storey Renaissance complex in Hatay's Antakya district was completely toppled after the earthquake. It had been advertised as a luxury residence project that complied with building regulations.

Coskun has yet to be officially charged.

hatay province collapsed buildings — This aerial view shows collapsed buildings that make up the Renaissance residential complex in southeast Turkey's Hatay province, on 8 February 2023 (AFP)

Turkey's justice minister said on Thursday that a judicial investigation had been initiated over collapsed buildings during the quake.

The probe will seek to hold to account those who built the buildings or bore any responsibility for their collapse in the 10 most-affected provinces.

Owner of collapsed residential complex arrested at airport

Mehmet Yasar Coskun was arrested on Friday at Sabiha Gokcen airport attempting to travel to Montenegro (Screengrab)