Indictment for Ahmet Özer has not been prepared for 40 days

The lawyers for the detained Esenyurt Mayor Ahmet Özerhave filed an individual application to the Constitutional Court,arguing that their client's right to a fair trial and right to defense have been violated.

"Being a member of the PKK/KCK" Özer's lawyers, Hasan Sınar and Hüseyin Ersöz, who was arrested on charges of and subsequently removed from office with a trustee appointed in his place, held a press conference at the Çağlayan Courthouse today.

NO INDICTMENT 

Hasan Sınar stated that they filed an objection following the decision to continue his client's detention, saying the following:

"Although 40 days have passed since Ahmet Özer's arrest, the indictment has still not been prepared. It is claimed that there is strong suspicion of a crime and concrete evidence against our client, but we have not been able to learn what this evidence is. We believe that a release decision and a decision of non-prosecution should be issued in this investigation process, which would demonstrate our client's innocence."

Hüseyin Ersöz, in his statement regarding the application to the Constitutional Court, said, "Ahmet Özer's right to a fair trial and right to defense are being violated. For this reason, we have made our individual application to the Constitutional Court in order to accelerate the process and ensure justice."

The lawyers reiterated their requests for release, emphasizing that the legal process must proceed in a transparent and swift manner.

HOW DID THE PROCESS DEVELOP?  

The home of 64-year-old Ahmet Özer was raided by counter-terrorism police in the early hours of Wednesday morning by breaking down the door. His office was also searched.

In a statement by the Ministry of Interior, it was announced that Özer was "removed from office as a temporary measure by the Ministry of Interior in accordance with Article 127 of the Constitution and Article 47 of the Municipal Law No. 5393."

On the Esenyurt Municipality's social media account, it was announced that Aksoy arrived at the office on Thursday morning and began his duties.

CHP members, DEM Party members, and various non-governmental organizations gathered at Esenyurt Square on Thursday in response to calls protesting the arrest and removal from office of Esenyurt Mayor Ahmet Özer. At this rally, CHP leader Özgür Özel called for early elections.

DEM Party Co-Chair Tülay Hatimoğulları stated, "Those who speak of internal peace have targeted the urban consensus, which is the very essence of internal peace."

WHAT ARE THE ACCUSATIONS?

In a statement by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was noted that a wiretapping measure was applied regarding Ahmet Özer due to "organizational documents seized from members of the terrorist organization, which were also delivered to the organization's leadership cadre in the Northern Iraq-Qandil region (regarding his appointment to the so-called democratic autonomy project during a meeting with terrorist organization leader Abdullah Öcalan on Imralı Island)."

It was alleged that over a ten-year period, "Özer communicated with PKK members many times and established contact with Kongra-Gel Co-Chair Remzi Kartal 14 times."

The statement further indicated that, based on a decision from the Istanbul Duty Criminal Judgeship of Peace, instructions were given to search Özer's residence, workplace, and vehicles, and to seize evidence of the crime.

Following the detention, Istanbul Bar Association President Prof. Dr. İbrahim Kaboğlu, who went to the Istanbul Police Department on Vatan Street, said, "The practices we witnessed today, the manner of entry into the office, and the breaking down of the door have no basis that can be explained in any way under our Constitution."

Kaboğlu called on the Istanbul Police Chief, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, and other judicial authorities to fulfill their "constitutional duties and responsibilities."