Critical decision regarding Eylem Tok, who appeared in court for the second time

Following the incident on March 1, where Timur Cihantimur, driving without a license, struck a group of people and caused the death of Oğuz Murat Aci, Timur and his author mother, Eylem Tok, fled first to Egypt and then to the US.

There has been a critical development regarding the pair, who were apprehended in the US in recent weeks and appeared before a judge while in custody.

At the hearing held this evening for mother Eylem Tok, the court determined that after the accident, Tok went to the scene, hid the victims' belongings, and destroyed evidence of the crime.

During the hearing, Eylem Tok's lawyer argued that according to the extradition treaty between the US and Turkey, the offense must carry a minimum sentence of 1 year in prison under Turkish law for his client to be surrendered; he opposed Tok's extradition and requested her release on bail.

Prosecutor Kristen Kearney, referring to the opinion sent by the US Department of State for the case last week, brought up additional allegations from Turkish authorities regarding Eylem Tok's destruction, concealment, or alteration of relevant evidence at the crime scene, beyond the charge of aiding a criminal.

Judge Donald L. Cabell, who presided over the hearing, adjourned the session to allow for the examination of the arguments presented by the defense and the prosecution within the framework of the existing extradition treaty between Turkey and the US.

Cabell called on the parties to communicate with each other to set a date within August, and decided that Eylem Tok would remain in custody during this period.

In a letter sent to the US Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts on June 27, the US Department of State had expressed its opinion regarding the extradition of Eylem Tok, a suspect in the fatal traffic accident in Istanbul, to Turkey.

The letter stated that the extradition of Eylem Tok was appropriate "based on new information received informally from the Turkish government," and included the statement: "Please note that the (US) Department of State has determined that both offenses for which Turkey initially requested the extradition of Eylem Tok meet the requirements under the extradition treaty between the US and Turkey."

The letter noted that it was initially thought that Tok should be sent to court "only for the evaluation of the charge of harboring a criminal," but that it was understood from the new information provided by Turkey that crimes such as "destroying, concealing, or altering evidence" had also been committed.

THE ACCIDENT IN EYÜPSULTAN

On March 1 in Eyüpsultan, one of three ATV vehicles in traffic broke down. While an attempt was being made to repair the broken-down vehicle pulled to the side of the road, one of two vehicles traveling in the same direction struck the three ATVs there, and Oğuz Murat Aci, one of the 5 injured, lost his life.

It was determined that 17-year-old driver Timur Cihantimur, who caused the accident, was taken from the scene by his mother Eylem Tok, who had arrived at the site, and that they went to Egypt first and then to the US with his mother.

The provisional arrest request documents for the extradition of the suspects were forwarded to the competent US authorities by the Ministry of Justice, and upon the decision of the Florida federal court, Cihantimur and Tok were apprehended by police in Boston on June 14.

It was decided that the mother and son, who appeared in court at separate times on June 18, would remain in custody. Cihantimur's lawyers argued that "the conditions of the detention center where their client is staying are very poor" and requested house arrest or a change of location, but the judge rejected this request at Cihantimur's second hearing held on June 21.

News Source: 12punto