Tram case: Prison time sought for police officer
A lawsuit has been filed seeking 1 to 3 years in prison for police officer Onur Şener, who expressed his thoughts and feelings regarding the PKK peace process to citizens waiting at a tram stop in Eskişehir on December 5, on the grounds that he delayed the tram's movement by 2 minutes.
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Report: Müyesser YILDIZ - 12punto
Following the incident, Onur Şener was suspended from duty. As a result of an administrative investigation, his dismissal from the civil service was requested on charges of “criticizing state policy” and “insulting the President.” Furthermore, a criminal complaint was filed with the Eskişehir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against him for “insulting the President” and for causing “tram services to be delayed by approximately 2 minutes.”
Onur Şener, who gave his statement on January 28 regarding the accusation of delaying tram services, said the following:
“On December 5, I was on duty at the Regional Traffic Branch Directorate. On this date, around 17:50, I stopped alone on İki Eylül Street in the patrol vehicle I was assigned to. I got out of the vehicle. The vehicle was on the side of the road. I expressed some of my criticisms regarding the peace process to the citizens waiting on the tramway. When I stepped onto the tramway, there was no tram. The tram arrived later, but I did not see that the tram had arrived and had to stop. The tram honked at me, but I did not hear that either. My intention was not to intentionally block the movement of the tram. I do not accept the accusation brought against me.”
His lawyers had also requested a decision of non-prosecution for Onur Şener.
However, in the indictment prepared by the Eskişehir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office two days later, on January 30, it was stated that the examination of camera footage obtained within the scope of the investigation initiated upon the criminal complaint of the General Directorate of Security determined that Onur Şener had intentionally stopped the tram arriving at the stop to address the citizens. It was also noted that in a letter dated December 17, 2025, from the tram operator Estram A.Ş., it was reported that tram services were delayed by approximately 2 minutes due to this incident. Therefore, it was stated that his defense was not considered credible, and it was requested that Şener be tried and sentenced to 1 to 3 years in prison.
The Eskişehir Criminal Court of First Instance accepted the indictment and decided to put Onur Şener on trial.