The second hearing of the Büyükçekmece Municipality Case, in which a total of 31 defendants, 5 of whom were detained, including Büyükçekmece Mayor Hasan Akgün, were tried, continued with statements regarding release on the second day.
While the prosecutor requested the continuation of all detentions, the President of the Court decided in the same direction. It was decided that all detentions would continue. The next hearing will be held on November 16.
Detainees, including Hasan Akgün, who has been detained in Silivri for 1 year and 3 months and for whom a prison sentence of 68 to 183 years is requested, attended the hearing held by the Istanbul 27th High Criminal Court in Çağlayan Courthouse.
NEW Party Şanlıurfa Deputy Mahmut Tanal also followed the hearing.
"THIS CASE IS POLITICAL" REACTION FROM LAWYERS
The lawyers of the detained defendants who took the floor demanded that the deficiencies in the file be corrected and made a statement regarding their release.
The lawyers also argued that there was no concrete evidence in the file regarding the accusations in the indictment, that the witnesses heard in court stated that he sponsored the municipality without any pressure, and that this case was "political".
“IF YOU ARE A MUNICIPALIST, YOU WILL HAVE A HEART LIKE A BBQ”
Later, the detained names made a statement. Büyükçekmece Mayor Hasan Akgün started his speech by saying, "Being a municipality is a very difficult job in Turkey. If you are a municipality in Turkey, your heart will be like a barbecue."
“I AM LOOKING FOR A SOLUTION IN SİLİVRİ TO THE PROBLEM MENTIONED BY THE CITIZEN IN THE LETTER”
Continuing by talking about the demands of the citizens during his term as president and what he did to respond to these demands, Akgün said, "One of the letters that came to the prison said, 'Our gym is collapsing.' I am looking for a solution from Silivri prison to build that gym for those children. At most, one more page will be added to our file."
“THE MINISTER SAID TO ME, 'FIND A SPONSOR'”
Akgün said that he told the then Minister of Culture and Tourism about a festival they would organize as a municipality, and that the Minister responded to him by "asking for support from sponsors". Akgün said, "I explained to our Minister the importance of the art festival we will organize, and he stated that he knew its importance and told me to ask for support from sponsors."
“NO SINGLE PENNY HAS PASSED FROM ME OR MY CHILDREN'S CROPS”
Akgün concluded his words as follows:
"What crime did I commit? What kind of organization did I establish and manage this organization? I am a mayor who has been elected 7 times in a row. Not a single penny of illicit money has passed through my or my children's pockets."
“NO CONCRETE EVIDENCE”
Making a statement later, Büyükçekmece Deputy Mayor Ömer Kazancı argued that there was no "concrete evidence" in the file regarding the accusations against him, especially the "organization" accusation. Kazancı criticized the indictment, emphasizing that it was prepared 340 days after his arrest.
“I WANT RELEASE FOR MY CHILDREN, NOT FOR MYSELF”
"As a person who loves his homeland and nation, I have always tried to instill this in my children," Kazancı said, adding, "I have been away from them for 16 months. I only want release for my children. Otherwise, I will go to prison."
REQUEST FROM THE PROSECUTOR FOR "CONTINUATION OF DETENTION"
After the statements are completed, the hearing prosecutor; Büyükçekmece Mayor Hasan Akgün, Büyükçekmece Deputy Mayor Ömer Kazancı demanded the continued detention of businessmen Adem Çukur, Mehmet Kılıç and Osman Yeşilgül.
THE COURT HAS NOT MADE A RELEASE DECISION
The President of the Court Panel also decided in line with the opinion and ordered the continuation of all detentions.
