Gaziosmanpaşa Mayor Hakan Bahçetepe was released from prison after 17 months: 'We hope all our mayors will be freed...'

The verdict was announced in the trial of Hakan Bahçetepe, who was suspended from his duty as Mayor of Gaziosmanpaşa. Istanbul 10th High Criminal Court sentenced Bahçetepe to 6 years and 3 months in prison for bribery and acquitted him of the other two charges. Bahçetepe, whom the court decided to release with a judicial control measure in the form of house arrest, was released after the completion of his procedures in Marmara Prison in Silivri. Bahçetepe, who was greeted with applause and hugged by his loved ones when he was released from prison, made evaluations about the trial process in his statement and made a call for other detained mayors.

Making a statement to the press after his release, Hakan Bahçetepe stated that he had been detained for approximately 17 months and made the following statements:

"ONE PERSON SAID HE HEARD IT, 10 PEOPLE SAID THERE IS NO SUCH THING, BUT..."

"I have been detained for 17 months. I do not know Aziz İhsan Aktaş. He also stated in court that he does not know me. He has no statement about me. He said, 'I just said what I heard. One person said I heard. 10 people said there was no such thing, but our court deemed such a decision appropriate. He granted release with house arrest. His lawyer friends will, of course, follow the process closely. Of course, the ones who are most affected during this period are the families. I do not have a child, but we have friends who have children and are in prison. I hope, as soon as possible, our President Ekrem, Our other mayors will be tried without arrest and reunited with their families and children as soon as possible. I would like to thank my wife Gözde, my mother, my father, my party friends, my neighborhood unit heads, and my district presidents for their support during this period. I hope all our mayors, deputy general secretaries, our other district mayors, deputy mayors, and bureaucrats will be freed as soon as possible. They will also join us and be returned to their country and state. I hope they will take steps to serve their nation and flag soon, and I wish all our mayors a good evening."

"LAWYERS ARE FOLLOWING THE PROCESS"

Bahçetepe said the following about the trial:

"(The prosecutor) asked for punishment for the first action. Acquittal for the second action. I was punished for the charge for which I was detained. I decided to acquit for the issue for which I was not detained. My lawyer friends are following the process in terms of the first action. My lawyer friends will follow the process there, my superior court process, they had objections."