Appeal filed against Zeydan Karalar's detention

Adana Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Zeydan Karalar was arrested as part of operations targeting CHP-run municipalities. In a petition submitted to the Istanbul 8th Criminal Court of Peace, Karalar's lawyers stated that the allegations underlying the arrest decision were not supported by concrete evidence. The petition emphasized inconsistencies in the testimony of Baki Nugay, who accused Karalar, and stated that these allegations consisted of abstract slanders.

THE LACK OF BASIS FOR THE ALLEGATIONS WAS EMPHASIZED

The petition stated that no material evidence was presented to prove that Baki Nugay had met with Karalar. It was noted that Nugay did not provide concrete information in his testimony to support his claims regarding the Seyhan Municipality, and that other witnesses did not witness such a meeting. Furthermore, it was argued that Karalar only knew Baki Nugay as a contractor and that the alleged meeting did not take place.

In a scientific opinion, Faculty of Law faculty member Prof. Dr. Adem Sözüer stated that Baki Nugay was not a perpetrator benefiting from effective remorse, but rather in the position of a victim. Sözüer stated that detaining Karalar instead of summoning him for a statement was unlawful and that the practices during this process were contrary to the law. Additionally, it was emphasized that HTS base records and cash withdrawal receipts could not be directly linked to Karalar, and that such assumptions did not constitute evidence.

The lawyers argued that the detention measure was disproportionate, noting that Karalar's age and health condition made his detention even more severe. It was stated that Karalar, as the mayor of an important province in Turkey, has a clean criminal record and that other judicial control measures could be applied.