Justice Minister Tunç makes statement on the eventful Trabzonspor-Fenerbahçe derby

Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç made statements regarding the escape of Eylem Tok and her son to the USA, the killing of the cat Eros, and the events that took place during the Trabzonspor-Fenerbahçe match.

Minister Tunç stated that new regulations regarding incidents on football pitches are on the agenda.

"JUDICIAL CONTROL DECISION ISSUED FOR THE FATHER"

Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç provided the following information regarding the escape of Eylem Tok and her son to the USA and the judicial process:

"If the relatives of those injured or deceased file a compensation lawsuit, an injunction can be placed. From a criminal perspective, an arrest warrant was issued by the judicial authorities within the scope of the investigation. Eylem Tok's assistant is the person who helped them escape that night. He also took the phone of one of the injured people from there, which is an act in the sense of destroying evidence. A judicial control decision was also issued for him by the judicial authorities. A judicial control decision was also issued for the father." 

"THERE ARE NO DEFICIENCIES IN THE FILE"

In response to the question, "Do the American authorities have an additional mechanism to take measures against Eylem Tok changing her location?", Tunç replied:

"The implementation of our temporary arrest warrant. In other words, we are saying that we have a temporary arrest warrant, arrest them and hand them over to us. We are saying we will conduct the trial. We are now waiting for an answer from there. There are currently no deficiencies in the file regarding the extradition."

POINTED TO REGULATION

Regarding the situation of non-extradition, Minister Tunç said, "There is a rule in our country's law that a citizen cannot be extradited. But this is not an absolute rule. It is said that there is a situation of impunity for the mother's crime in terms of the crime of harboring a criminal by a descendant or ascendant. It should not be seen only as harboring a criminal. There could be many crimes such as destroying evidence, leaving the injured behind like that. We open the investigation. But in order for us to conduct a trial, her statement must be taken. She enters the status of a fugitive. Regarding the fugitive, the Constitutional Court says that even when you decide that there is no room for sentencing, you must take the statement of the fugitive. The last regulation we made was about this, in the 8th Judicial Package. Therefore, we cannot go down the path of punishment without taking her statement," he said. 

In response to the question, "Can the American authorities try her?", Minister Tunç replied, "They can try her. That is, they can say, 'You committed a crime against a foreigner in a foreign country, you are my citizen, therefore I will try you according to my law.'" 

CASH COUNTING FOOTAGE AT CHP

Regarding the cash counting footage at the CHP, Minister Tunç said, "The prosecutor's office began to ask where this money came from. It called each of them to testify one by one. Of course, the person counting the money there is the President of the IMM Sports Club, who is also a council member from Beylikdüzü.

As far as I learned from the press, he said where he received it from. Since there were 3 bags, he said he could not carry them alone and that he called Tuncay Yılmaz for security reasons and asked for his help. What is the source of this money? Where did it come from? With a donation to the party... Where are the documents? From the bank? The deputy's statement will be taken as a witness. An invitation has been issued. He must come and testify. If he does not, then it means there is a dark point that he is not explaining. It is not a matter of the deputy being brought by force in the public eye. But he is not coming and not stating the source, and there is an election ahead of us. A deputy can make a statement as a witness, his testimony can be sought.

If there is an element of crime, it is the Public Prosecutor's Office that will bring it out, and the investigation has already begun.

It is out of the question for us to give instructions to the prosecutor's office. They started writing on social media, 'Where is justice?' They asked why the prosecutor's office is not seizing it. The prosecutor's office had already started the investigation before my statement. It is out of the question for me to give instructions to the judiciary, to give instructions to the Prosecutor's Office.

The statements of the people in those images are being taken. We do not know the statements either. Based on the statement, the prosecutor's office needs another statement. That person is also called.

Its equivalent in the Turkish Penal Code depends on where it was received from. It changes according to the place where it was received. There are rules for donations in the Political Parties Law, there is a certain amount. We will wait for the statements to be taken. We will all see together what kind of connections will emerge after those statements," he said. 

 EVENTS AT THE TRABZONSPOR - FENERBAHÇE MATCH

Minister Tunç made important statements about the events at the Trabzonspor - Fenerbahçe match.

Tunç said, "Such events should not happen on our pitches. We say that sports are brotherhood, but unfortunately, a situation that turns into hostility can occur. 12 people were detained in yesterday's events and an investigation was launched. The footage regarding those who entered the pitch and attacked is being examined. When those images are examined, there are mutual scuffles by the athletes of both sides. The investigation is ongoing. We have Law No. 6222 on the Prevention of Violence and Disorder in Sports. Which acts have which sanctions in this law, they are all written," he said. 

Minister Tunç also signaled a new regulation in his statement:

"Entering the pitch, causing trouble, bringing prohibited substances onto the pitch, making statements outside the sports area that will provoke in a way that will affect sports through the press and media. All of these are within the framework of this event, whose act fits which article of the law? The Public Prosecutor's Office is currently conducting this investigation.

The sports club has duties. They have their own private security. They need to take precautions. In addition to the security forces, there is also private security there. They need to take the necessary measures to prevent anyone from entering the pitch. A detailed investigation is currently being carried out on that point as well.

THE SUBJECT WILL BE BROUGHT TO PARLIAMENT

It is not right at all to involve this in politics. Involving this in politics shows bad intentions. Therefore, it should not be allowed. Our legislation provides for the necessary penalties. But despite this, we evaluated with our friends the issue of 'Is there a need for a new regulation in fines, prison sentences or not?' We have formed a draft study on that subject. Of course, this could be in the judicial package, but depending on the number of articles... The few article amendments we will submit to the discretion of our Parliament after the election will be a draft in terms of deterrence."

Tunç said, "The footage will be watched. The Public Prosecutor's Office will evaluate these images. Is there a situation that goes beyond legitimate defense and goes beyond one's own defense to harm the other party? Is there an attack? Whether it is a fan or a footballer, if a crime has been committed by both sides, it will be investigated.

Now, regarding the detail there, we are not saying yet that these are the details, this article will be this. Is it necessary to increase the penalties in terms of deterrence or not? We have done the work on this.

Of course, this is a matter we will submit to the discretion of our deputies. There may be some issues where we say it would be better if this happens for these acts. That is, not increasing the penalties in every article...

Our Ministry of Youth and Sports had some demands. For example, some troll accounts on social media, illegal betting. All of these will be evaluated within this subject," he said. 

THE CAT EROS ISSUE

Responding to the question about the 'Eros' case, Minister Tunç said, "Now, of course, not every decision given by the judiciary finds a response in the public conscience. First, the same court gave a 1-year 3-month prison sentence. That is, he stayed in prison for about 1 month, and they gave a 1-year 3-month sentence. He was released. After he was released, there was an uproar. The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office also appealed. Upon the appeal, the high criminal court overturned this decision. A date was given for a retrial. Everyone rushed to the courthouse. I even said that our President called after that first decision when he was released. We do not have the authority to intervene in the decision the court will make in the retrial by saying 'give this decision' in advance.

Of course, in the decision he gave this time, he moved away from the lower limit. That is, there were no prison sentences for such crimes in the Animal Protection Law in the past. There was a distinction between owned and unowned animals. All of these were legislated during our time.

"THIS IS A DEVELOPMENT"

In the previous decision, he had given 1 year and 3 months. This time he gave 3 years. He made a good conduct reduction. It dropped to 2 years and 6 months. Of course, this also created a reaction. Our public prosecutor will appeal this issue.

To eliminate the perception of impunity, that is, no matter what sentence a person receives, even if they receive a 1-month sentence, there must be a prison sentence equivalent for a certain period.

There are also positive examples. In Seferihisar, the judge sentenced the person who burned a dog in a kennel to 4 years in prison.

The brutal killing of Eros in this way deeply hurt us all. Kicking a living being for 6 minutes while torturing it in this way is cruelty. It is impossible to accept this. There was no punishment for such acts. There was a fine.

This is a development, a step. This is an awareness. An important sensitivity has also been formed regarding the protection of our animals. So there is actually no deficiency here. We also have a study on the perception of impunity and probation issues.

We carried out a study with our Ministry of Agriculture regarding stray animals. We are sensitive about the protection of animals. But it should not threaten human health either. In this sense, there is a preparation for a legal regulation that will establish the balance. It will come to the agenda after the election," he said. 

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

Tunç continued as follows:

"We have Law No. 6284 regarding the prevention of violence against women. There are some measures in this law. We have done work on increasing penalties in our criminal legislation. We even increased the penalties in the last package of the previous legislative term. That is, if the crime of intentional killing is committed against a man, it is life imprisonment; if it is committed against a woman, it is aggravated life imprisonment. Intentional injury, torture, persecution... We have further increased the penalties for crimes committed against women in all crimes. We also introduced stalking as a separate type of crime. I believe that our parliament has done what is necessary in terms of legislation on this issue.

In terms of preventing crime, that measure for a woman who says 'My life is in danger' as you mentioned should definitely be given immediately without delay, without the need for a court decision."