New development in the insult case against Kılıçdaroğlu

Former CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu continues to be tried for his remarks directed at the Istanbul 14th High Criminal Court panel that sentenced Enis Berberoğlu to 25 years in prison in the MİT trucks interception case on June 14, 2017.

Kılıçdaroğlu's lawyer, Beyza Köroğlu, attended the hearing held at the Istanbul Criminal Court of First Instance.

Taking the floor at the hearing, defense lawyer Köroğlu stated, "Our request regarding lack of jurisdiction and lack of authority remains. We request that the defendant's defense be taken after the procedural steps are completed."

PROSECUTOR'S OPINION

In the opinion he presented at the hearing, the Public Prosecutor stated that the defendant Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu was a member of parliament as of the date of the alleged crime, and therefore the trial falls under the jurisdiction of the High Criminal Courts, requesting that the file be sent to the relevant court with a decision of lack of jurisdiction.

FILE SENT TO HIGH CRIMINAL COURT

Pointing out that the defendant was a member of parliament in 2017, the court stated that the jurisdiction for the trial lies with the Ankara High Criminal Court, but that it could not be sent directly to Ankara due to procedural provisions. For this reason, it was ruled that the file be sent to the Istanbul High Criminal Court with a decision of lack of jurisdiction.

FROM THE INDICTMENT

In the indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was stated that Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu was not elected as a member of parliament in the May 14, 2023 elections and therefore does not have legislative immunity. The indictment also requested that Kılıçdaroğlu be sentenced to imprisonment ranging from 1 year, 5 months, and 15 days to 4 years and 1 month for the crime of "publicly insulting a public official working as a board due to their duty" in a chain manner.