Former Yüreğir District Governor pleads for release in tears

The trial of 3 defendants, including former Yüreğir District Governor Mustafa Kılıç, who is accused of defrauding companies of 50 million lira under the pretext of making purchases for earthquake victims in Adana, has continued.

PLEADED FOR RELEASE IN TEARS, SAID 'MY FAMILY IS DEVASTATED'

District Governor Kılıç, speaking tearfully, requested his release, saying, "My family is devastated. I have 22 million lira in receivables; if I were released, I would pay the damages." The trial of former Yüreğir District Governor Mustafa Kılıç, Özgür Akgül, who introduced himself as an advisor to Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, and the non-detained defendant Paşa Yaşar, on charges of "fraud by using public institutions and organizations, etc., as tools," continued.

According to the report in Sözcü, Mustafa Kılıç, who is detained at the Sakarya No. 3 L-Type Closed Prison, attended the hearing at the Adana 11th High Criminal Court via the Audio and Video Information System (SEGBİS). While the detained defendant Özgür Akgül was present in the courtroom, the non-detained defendant Paşa Yaşar did not attend.

In the hearing, where some complainants and lawyers for the parties were also present, the presiding judge stated that all 3 lawyers for defendant Mustafa Kılıç had submitted excuses for not attending the hearing and that one of his lawyers had requested the recusal of the prosecution. The court panel unanimously rejected the request for the recusal of the prosecution on the grounds that there is no provision in the law regarding the recusal of the prosecution and that the request was intended to prolong the trial.

'I WILL NOT FILE A COMPLAINT IF MY LOSSES ARE COVERED'

The hearing continued with the testimony of complainant T.Ö. Stating that he did not know District Governor Mustafa Kılıç and that he met the other defendant, Özgür Akgül, through his friend R.B., T.Ö. said, "R.B. told me that Özgür was an official at the AK Party headquarters and the presidency. We went to the district governor for the tender. They said they would make purchases for soup kitchens due to the earthquake. They wanted me to rush the job and sign a contract. I did not accept. The district governor asked me to prepare a proposal, stating that the tender was a direct procurement method and that I needed to deposit a security deposit. Furthermore, the district governor stated that the appropriation had arrived and that the ministry wanted the process to be accelerated.

They said the tender was 107 million 600 thousand lira. I deposited 6 million 530 thousand lira as a security deposit. I deposited the money into the district governor's personal account, claiming it was a foundation account. I deposited it because the district governor said the foundation account was in his name. After the events came to light, I went to the district governor 20 times in one month. I got back a total of 4 million 70 thousand lira. My current currency-based receivable is 2 million 765 thousand lira. I will not file a complaint if he covers my losses; if he does not, I will file a complaint. Mustafa and Özgür did not demand any benefits in exchange for the tender."

PRISON SENTENCES OF 48 TO 160 YEARS REQUESTED

Defendant Mustafa Kılıç, who was given the right to speak following the complainant's testimony, said, "I have nothing to say." The court prosecutor reiterated the opinion on the merits he had presented at the previous session.

In his 13-page opinion, the prosecutor requested that defendant Mustafa Kılıç be sentenced to 48 to 160 years in prison for 16 counts of "fraud by using public institutions and organizations, etc., as tools," that defendant Özgür Akgül be sentenced to 24 to 80 years for 8 counts, and that defendant Paşa Yaşar be sentenced to 3 to 10 years for one count.

The prosecutor stated that the crimes were committed in a chain and requested that the court panel deviate from the lower limit when sentencing, and also requested the continued detention of the detained defendants.

'I HAVE LEARNED MY LESSON'

Mustafa Kılıç, who was given the right to speak against the opinion, requested his release in a tearful manner, saying, "I have learned my lesson. I apologize to the panel, the prosecutors, and the complainants. I have a disabled daughter, my wife does not work, they are devastated. My parents are in their 80s and they cannot take care of themselves either. At least let me stay at home with them, think with a father's sensitivity," he said, requesting his release.

The other defendant, Özgür Akgül, also requested his release, noting that the Ramadan Feast is approaching. The presiding judge asked the defendants whether they had made any efforts to compensate for the losses of the complainants.

Defendant Mustafa Kılıç said, "I have made efforts. I gave instructions to my lawyer. I have receivables of nearly 22 million lira. If I were outside, I would collect my receivables and pay the damages." Özgür Akgül, on the other hand, stated that he did not obtain any interest or benefit from the incident and did not want to cover the damages. Akgül said, "I am the main victim."

The presiding judge warned the defendants and the lawyers for the parties for the last time, stating that no more time would be given for defense and that they would reach a verdict. The court panel decided to continue the detention of the detained defendants and adjourned the hearing to a later date for the verdict, giving the defendants and their lawyers time to prepare their final statements on the merits.