Tanju Özcan faints while testifying in bribery investigation: 'An operation to keep me from being released'

The second hearing of the trial involving 19 defendants, including the suspended Bolu Mayor Tanju Özcan, who face charges of "bribery," "extortion," and "qualified fraud" in Bolu, has begun. The defendants, who are being tried on charges of "extortion by coercion," "attempted extortion," "bribery," "qualified fraud," and "violation of Law No. 5072 on Foundations and Associations," appeared before the judge for the second time.

The trial, which began at 09:00 at the Bolu 3rd High Criminal Court, was attended by BOLSEV Board Member Ali Sarıyıldız, as well as Mustafa Altındal, President of the Bolu Peddlers and Greengrocers Chamber and the Bolu Köroğlu Credit, Tradesmen and Surety Cooperative.

Bolu Mayor Tanju Özcan and Deputy Mayor Süleyman Can, who are held at the Ankara Sincan Prison, attended the hearing via the Audio and Video Information System (SEGBİS).

"These are operations carried out to keep me from being released"

Testifying in court, Bolu Mayor Tanju Özcan said, "I thank you for your well-intentioned management during the first session. The interim decision was not well-received by us. Bringing me and Süleyman Can to the courtroom negatively affects our defense. You will say that you are out of town, but being out of town was not my choice either. It has been 6 months and 8 days of detention. I would like to discuss whether Mr. İmamoğlu was victimized more or if I was. I have chosen never to call my case a political one. The process regarding me has started to move toward very different situations. They detained me and my friends on February 28. In the first session, all market officials were heard, and as a result, it emerged that there was no element of coercion. Despite all the defamation, people felt sorry for me, saying, 'Can a mayor be arrested for giving a scholarship to a student?' A general process is not being carried out regarding me; it is not a process carried out as it is for everyone else. These are operations carried out to keep me from being released. I see this, and I am saddened, but I am most saddened for my friends. If Bolu is the cleanest city in Turkey, then the cleaning affairs directorate is the most successful directorate. What is the point of taking our friends in the cleaning department into custody just so Tanju Özcan remains detained? Do they see me as a traitor? Am I a traitor to the country? Abdullah Öcalan's conditions are better than mine. The conditions of terrorist organization members are better than mine."

Tanju Özcan fainted while giving his statement

Tanju Özcan, who felt unwell due to a spike in his blood sugar while testifying to the court, fell to the ground and fainted. The hearing was adjourned. Tanju Özcan, who received his medication and necessary check-ups from medical teams, requested his release, taking his health condition into account. Özcan stated, "The unfair investigations by the Bolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office have worn me out both mentally and physically. My diabetes is at a critical point; it stays above 400 for 18 hours. My sugar only drops while I am sleeping. Looking at the blood test, the risk of acute pancreatitis has emerged again. That is what the doctors say. I have lost 25 kilos in one year. I have no weight left to lose. Since there is no fat left in my body to burn, it is consuming muscle. I do not want to seek pity or find myself in such a situation, but I leave it to your conscience, Your Honor. I request my release."

Hearing adjourned to October 19

Following the statements of the lawyers, the court panel decided to continue the detention of Tanju Özcan and 3 other defendants. The panel, which also decided to continue the judicial control measures for the defendants under such measures, adjourned the hearing to October 19.