Prison sentence for former Orhanlı Mayor Cemil Ekşi: Irregularity in stationery distribution

Former Orhanlı Mayor Cemil Ekşi has been sentenced to prison in a case opened years ago over allegations of irregularities in the procurement of stationery to be distributed.

Ekşi received the sentence at a time when he had announced his candidacy for the Tuzla Mayoralty.

Along with former Orhanlı Mayor Cemil Ekşi, 7 people who were arrested in May 2012 on allegations of causing a loss of approximately 2 million lira to the Orhanlı Municipality by making it appear as if stationery had been purchased with fake invoices were sent to prison, but were released at the first hearing. Ekşi, who was found to have distributed the stationery to students, had stated in a speech at the time: "It is claimed that I committed corruption in stationery materials with thirty thousand lira. I would not commit corruption, not even for thirty thousand lira, nor for a billion; I would not eat the rights of an orphan, nor would I let anyone else eat them."

The case, which lasted for years, concluded shortly after Cemil Ekşi announced his candidacy for the Tuzla Mayoralty. Cemil Ekşi was sentenced to 8 years, 3 months, and 30 days in prison. It was stated that Cemil Ekşi has the right to appeal the concluded case.

In his statement, Ekşi said: "Any person of common sense will already be convinced that I would not commit this crime. The aforementioned verdict rendered against me is contrary to equity and conscientious convictions. Surely, such a decision rendered against me is not without reason. Especially considering that my name was being mentioned loudly in election polls and discussions in Tuzla, and my application for the Tuzla Mayoralty, which I made so as not to remain indifferent to the voice of the public, may have accelerated the fate of the file that had been waiting to be announced for years. The point that I find meaningful is this: the timing."

"I AM ENTERING PRISON TODAY"

"As someone who served two terms as the Mayor of Orhanlı and who announced that I would be a part of the process by declaring my candidacy for the Tuzla Mayoralty in the upcoming 2024 local elections; I am entering prison today."

"As a result of the confirmation of a file of mine that has been ongoing for years; I will not be among you for a while. I am experiencing this process because a verdict in the form of a 'prison sentence' was reached regarding my person. I would like to state first of all that I am sad. The reason I am sad is that I did not actually commit the crime I am accused of. This statement may seem very ordinary to some people. Or anyone entering prison can say 'I am innocent.' But the truth is that I did not commit a crime. Any person of common sense who knows the content of the file, or is in a position to know, or who will just do research out of curiosity, will already be convinced that I would not commit this crime. The aforementioned verdict rendered against me is contrary to equity and conscientious convictions. Surely, such a decision rendered against me is not without reason. Especially considering that my name was being mentioned loudly in election polls and discussions in Tuzla, and subsequently, my application for the Tuzla Mayoralty, which I made so as not to remain indifferent to the voice of the public, may have accelerated the fate of the file that had been waiting to be announced for years. The point that I find meaningful is this: THE TIMING... I leave the interpretation to you, my dear brothers and sisters..."

"As Cemil EKŞİ; as a brother of yours who has the courage to stand behind his mistakes as well as his truths until this age; as an older brother of yours who never needs excuses and who bravely says what needs to be said without hesitation; as a comrade of yours who sees everyone as one, who is fair, and who defends justice; as a friend of yours who embraces people from all walks of life; as a mayor of yours who, as in the past, does not hesitate to take political steps for the survival of our state today; I am going to do what is required of me to execute the decision given by the Turkish courts."

"WE WILL SURELY MEET AGAIN ONE DAY"

Ekşi also stated: "No matter what happens; whatever our state and our judicial bodies decide, what befits us is to do what is required of us... I have defended justice and equity until this age, and I have lived that way. At the point reached today; even though I have been wronged and am entering prison; as long as I believe and defend, my faith in justice will never end. Take care of yourselves. We will surely meet again one day."

THE SIMILARITY TO THE INCIDENT IN DİKİLİ DREW ATTENTION

Former Dikili Mayor Osman Özgüven was acquitted as a result of a case opened due to the practice of providing up to 10 cubic meters of free water, but he was sentenced to a total of 8 years and 4 months in prison in two separate cases on charges of "misconduct in office" by Ankara Metropolitan Mayor Melih Gökçek. With the sentence upheld by the Supreme Court of Appeals in November 2012, Özgüven's mayoralty was terminated, and the public protested this situation.

Describing it as a political execution if the sentence was not overturned, Özgüven had stated in his declaration: "This sentence is an attempt at political execution and a dirty attack aimed at discrediting. It is also part of an attack on our party and the mayors we have in administration. Those who are uncomfortable with the free water practice ending without punishment are looking for an opportunity."

News Source: 12punto