KÖZ, sentenced to 3 years in prison: 'I explained the structure to state officials in 2010'!..

Kemalettin Özdemir, known for years as the police imam of “FETÖ” and nicknamed KÖZ, has been sentenced to 3 years and 1 month in prison on charges of “establishing and managing an armed terrorist organization.” While requesting a closed session to disclose the names of state officials he had been meeting with since 2010 regarding the fight against “FETÖ,” Özdemir claimed that information was taken from him for months on the 5th floor of the Hilton Hotel.

Kemalettin Özdemir, who was tried at the Ankara 4th High Criminal Court and faced a potential 22.5-year prison sentence, made a brief defense against the prosecutor's final opinion during today's hearing. Stating that despite fighting against this structure since 2010, he is now facing this as a punishment, Özdemir said, “I do not want to leave this as a shame and disgrace to my family,” and continued as follows:

“There were things I hadn't said until now. That is why I want to say them now. In 2010, there was no one among the state officials I did not meet with. Let a closed session be held, and I will present their names and the information I provided one by one. The Minister of Interior, the Head of MIT, and people above them... However, it hurts my conscience for these names to be discussed in the media. I want those state officials to be heard as witnesses. For months, information was taken from me and recorded on the 5th floor of the Hilton Hotel. I went to the President of Religious Affairs; I said, ‘I can no longer endure the slanders, I am in danger of my life,’ and asked to be sent to Saudi Arabia. Mehmet Görmez also recounted these. I meet with him at 6 PM, and at 8 AM the next morning, Mustafa Özcan calls the President of Religious Affairs and threatens him. I want Mehmet Görmez to be heard as well. My heart does not accept even the slightest punishment for being a member of a structure I have fought against for years. I was provided with protection for years. My conscience does not allow me to say more.”

His lawyer also emphasized that punishing Kemalettin Özdemir would mean harming all “FETÖ” files.

When asked for his final words after the statements, Kemalettin Özdemir said, “I was poisoned, I was hospitalized, I was followed. I hope what I said is understood.”

After a 15-minute break, the Presiding Judge announced the verdict, stating that Kemalettin Özdemir was sentenced to 15 years in prison by unanimous vote, and that the sentence was reduced to 3 years, 1 month, and 15 days due to effective remorse and good conduct.