House arrest for a simple traffic accident... Why, you ask?..

The most famous traffic accident we have been talking about for the last year was the one caused by Fatma Zehra Kınık, the daughter of former Turkish Red Crescent President Kerem Kınık.

In the accident that occurred in Istanbul 1 year ago, Fatma Zehra Kınık hit a motorcycle. 17-year-old Batın Barlasçeki, who was sitting on the back of the motorcycle, lost his life, while the motorcycle driver Yavuz Selim Öztürk and Muammer Kızıl, who was hit by the motorcycle as it continued to skid along the sidewalk, were injured.

In the fatal accident, Fatma Zehra Kınık was held in custody for only one day and was released to be tried without arrest under judicial control conditions.

A prison sentence of 2 to 15 years was requested for Kınık, whom the Forensic Medicine Institute also found 100 percent at fault, on charges of "causing death and injury by negligence." When Kınık's trial began, the hearing was held behind closed doors to the press and spectators.

Ultimately, Kınık was sentenced to 4 years and 2 months in prison, but it was decided that she would not be arrested and that judicial control measures would continue. Her driver's license was also confiscated for 2 years.

The judicial control measures that were decided to continue were a travel ban and the practice of signing in at a police station—for however many days that may be.

BOTH CUSTODY AND HOUSE ARREST

The reason we are reminding you of this accident and emphasizing the judicial control measures applied to Fatma Zehra Kınık?

Because an accident that could rival that event just happened in Ankara, that's why.

Let us explain.

One of the protagonists of the incident is a warehouse supervisor at a private company who supports his family of four. At the end of his shift in the evening, he sets off for home with his friends. While driving, a vehicle coming from behind turns on its flashing lights and honks its horn, forcing his vehicle. Meanwhile, even before the accident, one of the friends in the warehouse supervisor's vehicle calls 112, provides the license plate of the vehicle, and reports that it is endangering traffic safety. During the forcing maneuver, while the warehouse supervisor tries to give way by changing lanes in a controlled manner, the other driver, because he is coming fast, hits the left rear door and fender of that vehicle. Even though he hit it, he does not stop and continues on his way. Upon this, the warehouse supervisor stops in a safe area, 112 is called, and the police are summoned. In the report prepared by the traffic teams who arrived at 18:40, according to the warehouse supervisor's claims and statements, it is stated that "a traffic accident with material damage occurred as a result of the vehicle with license plate .. ... .. , whose plate he had taken, hitting the left side of his vehicle," and then it is said, "The necessary fault assessment could not be made in this accident, and it has been referred to the Çiftlik Police Station for the necessary investigation to be carried out."

After the report, the warehouse supervisor leaves the scene and goes home.

What happened next?

In the evening, the police come to his house. They inform him that there is a complaint against him and invite him to the police station. When he goes to the station, he is taken into custody.

When he is taken to the Prosecutor's Office the next day, he is released with the judicial control measure of house arrest for 1 month, and after that, signing in at the police station.

IS IT THE LAW OF THE SUPERIOR?

If you ask what is the meaning of custody and then house arrest for someone who was forced in traffic and whose car was damaged; this is the most important part.

It turns out that the person driving that vehicle with flashing lights stopped 200 meters away from the scene and called the police.

The team that arrived at 18:42 prepared a report with this driver's account, "While I was driving in the middle lane, that vehicle changed to the left lane in an uncontrolled manner and hit the right mirror and side parts of my own vehicle with its left side and left the scene," along with the finding that, "It is understood from our scene investigation and the driver's statement that the driver of the vehicle with license plate .. ... ... , who left the scene after the accident, violated the Highway Traffic Law in the occurrence of this accident."

The same driver also filed a complaint alleging that he was subjected to insults and threats from the other party.

Let's assume all of this is true. Does custody, let alone house arrest, come out of this?

We have reached the crux of the matter; it turns out it does.

Before the "because," let's note the following.

The warehouse supervisor's lawyer presented two separate police reports and the shape and pattern of the damage to the vehicles... He explained that it was the other party, not his client, who left the scene, and that no threats or insults were made... He drew attention to the fact that the judicial control measures imposed were contrary to the Constitution and Supreme Court precedents... He stated that 1 month of house arrest would cause his client to lose his job... He requested that the house arrest be lifted at least so that he could attend his brother's wedding in Istanbul on June 27.

But he was unsuccessful.

Because that vehicle with flashing lights was registered in the name of an influential and authorized executive of a very high-level judicial body, and the person driving it was his son!..

Müyesser YILDIZ

July 11, 2025