Trial date set for Eylem Tok and Bülent Cihantimur

On March 1, 2024, in Eyüpsultan, 17-year-old Timur Cihantimur struck three parked ATV-type vehicles on the side of the road while driving. The accident resulted in the death of 29-year-old Oğuz Murat Aci and left others at the scene injured. Following the accident, Eylem Tok, allegedly in cooperation with individuals including father Bülent Cihantimur, helped her son flee the scene and subsequently took him abroad.

THEY WILL APPEAR IN COURT ON JULY 13

The date has been set for the five defendants, including Eylem Tok and Bülent Cihantimur, to appear in court regarding the incident. The trial will begin on July 13 at the Istanbul 28th Criminal Court of First Instance.

FROM THE INDICTMENT

In the indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, Özer Aci, Şükriye Aci, Pervin Aci, and Ezgi Hilal Büyük are listed as 'complainants,' while Hasan Topal, İbrahim Gümüş, Süleyman Keçici, and Tahsin Arslan are listed as 'victims.' Additionally, Bülent Cihantimur, Eylem Tok, Adem Kızıltepe, Ayşe Ceren Saltoğlu, and Berna Öcalgiray are listed as 'suspects.'

The indictment states that on March 1, 2024, Timur Cihantimur, the son of suspects Eylem Tok and Bülent Cihantimur, was involved in a traffic accident while driving a vehicle, which resulted in the death of Oğuz Murat Aci and injuries to Süleyman Keçici, İbrahim Gümüş, Hasan Topal, and Tahsin Arslan.

The indictment further notes that suspect Tok and suspect Saltoğlu acted together to take Timur Cihantimur from the scene to a residence belonging to Tok. It states that a mobile phone belonging to the injured İbrahim Gümüş was taken from the scene by an individual named Z.H., later left on a wall at a residential complex via K.A., and was secured by the complex's security. Suspects Adem Kızıltepe, Eylem Tok, and Berna Öcalgiray went to the complex to retrieve the phone, which served as evidence for the crime of 'causing death and injury by negligence.' The indictment records that the security supervisor handed the phone to Öcalgiray, and it was later delivered to law enforcement by suspect Adem Kızıltepe. It is noted that the suspects acted in unity of intent and action to seize evidence, and their defenses were not deemed credible.

After the phone was retrieved by the suspects, the indictment states that suspects Eylem Tok, Bülent Cihantimur, Ayşe Ceren Saltoğlu, and Adem Kızıltepe went to the house where Timur Cihantimur was staying. Timur Cihantimur's parents remained in the house for a while, while suspects Saltoğlu and Kızıltepe waited outside. Later, Timur Cihantimur and his father set off in a vehicle belonging to Bülent Cihantimur, followed by suspects Tok and Saltoğlu. After a while, Bülent Cihantimur's vehicle stopped, and Timur Cihantimur boarded the vehicle driven by Ayşe Ceren Saltoğlu, at which point a suitcase was also transferred from Bülent Cihantimur's vehicle to Saltoğlu's vehicle.

THEY PROVIDED MEANS TO SAVE A PERPETRATOR FROM CAPTURE

The indictment states that suspects Eylem Tok, Bülent Cihantimur, Ayşe Ceren Saltoğlu, and Adem Kızıltepe helped the minor Timur Cihantimur flee abroad without undergoing an alcohol test or providing a statement. It is noted that Eylem Tok, Adem Kızıltepe, and Berna Öcalgiray hid the phone belonging to the injured victim İbrahim Gümüş, which was at the scene and served as evidence. The suspects acted in unity of intent and action to commit the crime of 'destroying, hiding, or altering criminal evidence' and provided the means to save a perpetrator from capture.

The indictment also records that Timur Cihantimur and Eylem Tok traveled to Egypt by plane on the night of the incident and then to the United States, and have not returned despite nearly two years having passed since the event, thereby committing the crime of 'harboring a criminal' through unity of intent and action.

UP TO 10 YEARS IMPRISONMENT REQUESTED

The indictment requests that suspects Bülent Cihantimur, Eylem Tok, Adem Kızıltepe, and Ayşe Ceren Saltoğlu be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison each for the crimes of 'harboring a criminal' and 'destroying, hiding, or altering criminal evidence.' For suspect Berna Öcalgiray, a prison sentence of up to 5 years is requested for the crime of 'destroying, hiding, or altering criminal evidence.'

Meanwhile, the separate investigation regarding Timur Cihantimur continues, as he was under the age of 18 at the time of the incident.