New development in the trial of Dilan and Engin Polat for allegedly assaulting their neighbor: 'They have agreed to a settlement'

The hearing held at the Anadolu 35th Criminal Court of First Instance was attended by the complainants Metin S.A. and Esra A., along with their lawyers. The defendants Dilan Polat and Engin Polat, who did not attend the hearing, were represented by their lawyers.

In her testimony at the hearing, complainant Esra A. stated that they had returned home from her husband's birthday celebration on the day of the incident and explained that they had parked their vehicle in the nearest available spot because the vehicles belonging to guests of the Polats were blocking the road.

Stating that the doorbell rang after a while and her husband opened the door, Esra A. noted the following:

"As far as I understood, they wanted us to move our vehicle. My husband left the house to move the car. Then I was left alone at home with my 6-year-old daughter. I heard shouting from outside. Thinking that a fight might break out, I called security. Engin Polat kicked the door open and entered the house. I definitely did not open the door.

Engin Polat entered the house first, followed by 4 people. The other individuals who entered were also looking for my husband, but they did not shout or make any threatening remarks. While they were inside, Dilan Polat also entered the house. Dilan Polat also shouted and screamed, but she did not make any insulting or threatening remarks. When one of the individuals who entered the house said that my husband was outside, they left. I also called the police using the KADES application because I was afraid they would come back. We have withdrawn our complaint to avoid spending more time on this incident. We are waiving our complaint."

"ENGIN POLAT MOVED IN A WAY I COULD NOT SEE AND PUNCHED ME"

Complainant Metin S.A. also stated that it was not his own vehicle that was blocking the road, but the vehicles of those visiting the Polats, and that he had gone out to move his car to avoid any trouble.

Stating that he accepted the settlement with the other party and withdrew his complaint, Metin S.A. said, "I said to Dilan Polat in a normal tone of voice, 'Ma'am, are these vehicles yours? Don't you see you've parked them in the middle of the road?' She said, 'You cannot shout at me.' When I said, 'I am not shouting, you are shouting,' she started swearing at me. Dilan did not make any threatening remarks; she only swore. I started the car and moved it back 20-30 meters. Then I heard my daughter's scream and started running back up.

At that moment, they were coming down as well. Engin Polat moved in a way I could not see and punched me. Engin Polat did not make any threatening remarks toward me. My only concern at that moment was to get to my daughter. After I was punched, I couldn't see my surroundings well. There was a fight that lasted a few minutes between us and a number of people I don't know."

The lawyers for the complainants requested that the court decide to drop the case, taking into account their clients' withdrawal of the complaint.

The defendants' lawyers also requested that the case be dropped, stating that they accepted the settlement with the other party.

The defendants' lawyers stated that they did not accept the complainants' statements against them and requested that witnesses be heard.

The public prosecutor, expressing their opinion, requested that the request to hear witnesses be accepted and that time be granted to present their final opinion on the merits.

The judge accepted the requests and adjourned the hearing.

FROM THE INDICTMENT

The indictment prepared by the Anadolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office states that a party was held at the Polat couple's home on June 2, 2023, for Engin Polat's birthday, and that a guest's baby became ill. It is stated that the guest, who went to their parked car to go to the doctor, saw another vehicle in front of their car.

The indictment alleges that Engin Polat, who was informed, went to his neighbor Metin S.A.'s house to ask for the vehicle to be moved but could not find his neighbor at home, and that the couple later encountered Metin S.A. on the road, argued, and subsequently assaulted and threatened him when the argument escalated.

The indictment notes that complainant Metin S.A. stated he had to leave his vehicle on the street because the vehicles belonging to the Polats' guests were parked on the passage route, and according to the report obtained from the Istanbul Anadolu Forensic Medicine Branch Directorate, the complainant sustained minor injuries as a result of the assault.

The indictment seeks a prison sentence of up to 8 years and 4 months for Dilan Polat for the crimes of "insult," "assault," and "threat with more than one person," and up to 11 years and 4 months for Engin Polat for the crimes of "insult," "assault," "threat with more than one person," and "violation of residential immunity."

OTHER INVESTIGATION INTO THE POLAT COUPLE

On the other hand, the investigation conducted by the Anadolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into 24 suspects, including Engin Polat and Dilan Polat, for the crimes of "prevention of money laundering, violation of the Tax Procedure Law, and the law on the regulation of betting and games of chance in football and other sports competitions" is ongoing.

In this investigation, in which 16 suspects, including the Polat couple, were arrested, the criminal judgeship of peace had imposed a travel ban on some social media influencers and ordered the appointment of trustees to 27 companies.