Security footage used as evidence: Judge faces sexual assault trial over high school intern

B.I., a student in the Justice Department of a high school in Adana, began an internship in September 2022 under A.E., the judge of the Adana 4th Children's Court. Judge A.E. allegedly sexually assaulted B.I. — who interned under him three days a week — in his chambers in November. After the incident, B.I. told her psychologist cousin what she had experienced, and once her mother also learned of it, she went to the school principal to report the matter. With the school administration stepping in, an investigation was launched into Adana 4th Children's Court judge A.E.

During the investigation, the judge was first reassigned to a different post, then suspended from duty. The Adana Tarsus Chief Public Prosecutor's Office prepared an indictment and filed a case against the judge seeking up to 15 years in prison on charges of "simple sexual assault."

'HE CLOSED THE CURTAINS'

Victim B.I., whose statement was included in the indictment accepted by the Tarsus 2nd Heavy Criminal Court, said: "One day during my internship, he told me in his office that I was very beautiful. Then the subject turned to swimming — when I said I liked swimming, he asked whether I had any videos of myself swimming. I said I didn't. Then the subject suddenly turned to alcohol. After talking a bit more, he asked me whether I liked dancing. I told him I didn't know how to dance. Then he closed the curtains. I stood up, and while I was standing he said 'come, let's dance.' I told him I didn't know how. He put his hand on my hand and his other hand on my waist. During the dance he touched me 6 to 7 times. He tried to kiss me on the lips; I pulled back. I told him I was uncomfortable and wanted to leave. At that moment he grabbed both of my hands and kissed me. I pulled myself back and left."

While judge A.E. denied the allegations in his statement in the indictment, security camera footage showing B.I. rushing out of the judge's chambers in a state of panic was also included as evidence. An expert report on the examination of the victim's phone was also included in the indictment. The report stated that the day after the incident, judge A.E. sent a message reading "Did you come to the courthouse today, is everything alright?" and that there were unanswered calls from him.

News Source: 12punto