The Ministry had appealed Nevzat Bahtiyar's sentence... Critical statement comes from Bahtiyar's lawyer: 'The Ministry's application will be rejected'

In the case regarding the murder of 8-year-old Narin Güran, whose lifeless body was found 19 days after she went missing in the village of Tavşantepe in Diyarbakır, Nevzat Bahtiyar, who was determined to have transported the body, had been sentenced to 4 years and 6 months in prison for "destroying, concealing, or altering criminal evidence."

Bahtiyar's lawyer, Adnan Ataş, had appealed the sentence. Today, the Ministry of Family and Social Services also appealed, finding the sentence insufficient and arguing that Bahtiyar should receive a harsher penalty.

''THE SENTENCE SHOULD HAVE BEEN LIGHTER''

Nevzat Bahtiyar's lawyer, Adnan Ataş, in a statement to Kübra Karasu from CGTN Türk, argued that his client acted under threat and that this situation should have been taken into account to impose a lighter sentence. Ataş said, "The court's decision to punish my client, Nevzat Bahtiyar, for concealing criminal evidence was a verdict we expected. However, there is no evidence in the file that my client participated in the murder. Moreover, my client was under serious threat. The Güran family's messages regarding weapons, the ammunition found in their homes, and their threatening expressions during the hearings clearly show that my client acted under duress. For this reason, he should have received a lower sentence."

''THE APPELLATE COURT WILL REJECT THE APPEAL''

Ataş also made assessments regarding the Ministry of Family and Social Services' appeal. Stating that the Ministry claims his client participated in the murder, Ataş said, "Even according to the narrowed base station report the Ministry relies on, my client was not at the scene of the crime at the time of the murder. Therefore, I think this appeal by the Ministry will be rejected by the appellate court. I do not expect a decision against my client. On the contrary, there is a possibility that the criminal process will change in my client's favor."

Ataş emphasized that they would continue to defend his client's innocence during the higher court process, adding, "If the decision turns against my client, we will go to the Court of Cassation if necessary."