Ahmet Özer sentenced to 8 months and 10 days in prison for 'misconduct in office': First statement from Özer

A verdict has been reached regarding suspended Esenyurt Mayor Ahmet Özer in the Aziz İhsan Aktaş case, which involves 200 defendants. The Istanbul 1st High Criminal Court ruled for Özer's acquittal on the charge of "forgery of a private document."

The court sentenced Özer to 8 months and 10 days in prison for "misconduct in office by negligence." The court decided to defer the announcement of the verdict (HAGB) regarding this sentence.

Following the decision, Özer made a statement, noting that he was sentenced based on an assessment of "neglect of duty" that he claimed was not included in the indictment. Pointing to expert reports, Özer stated that the reports indicated he had no involvement in the transactions in question.

Özer said, "Unfortunately, I received a sentence of 8 months and 10 days for neglect of duty. This sentence has been deferred, it is effectively null and void." Regarding the impact of the decision on his return to office, he stated that the sentence, due to the HAGB, does not constitute an obstacle to his return to duty.

Ahmet Özer's lawyer, Hüseyin Ersöz, also announced that the court did not impose a sentence for bid-rigging and acquitted him of the charge of "forgery of a private document." Ersöz stated that the HAGB decision does not prevent Özer from returning to his post and announced that they would pursue legal remedies with the view that he should have been acquitted.