Prosecutor changed again in Tunç Soyer's investigation

Frequent changes in prosecutors and court panels regarding the ongoing cooperative investigation into the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality have caused serious concerns about the transparency and fairness of the process. It was learned that the prosecutor who prepared the indictment in the investigation was also removed from duty recently. This development, along with previous changes involving other prosecutors and judges assigned to the file, has brought about discussions regarding the stability of the justice system.

Defne Soyer, the lawyer for Tunç Soyer, who has been in detention for approximately 10 months, stated that the successive changes have wounded the public conscience. Defne Soyer said, "Why do nearly 30 expert witnesses and 4 universities refrain from submitting a report on a single file? These events shake the trust in law and justice in the country."

COOPERATIVE MODEL

Defne Soyer argued that there is no legal basis for her father, former mayor Tunç Soyer, to remain in detention due to work carried out under the cooperative model. Soyer stated that the cooperative model applied in urban transformation was found to be in accordance with the law, but the investigation continues under the pretext of internal operations. "A mayor cannot be arrested due to the cooperative model in urban transformation by using the internal affairs of cooperatives as an excuse. In the first file, it was understood in court that the model was in accordance with the law. It is now clear that the problem is not with the model," she said.

Stating that the first detention period lasted six months and that a new process was added to the file while his release was expected, Defne Soyer said, "Five days before the hearing where his release was considered certain in the first file, the prosecution attempted to re-include him in the file that had been separated from the first one under the pretext of 'internal affairs of cooperatives.' He was re-arrested just as he was about to be released," she expressed.

NO FINDINGS AGAINST TUNÇ SOYER IN MASAK REPORT

The report by the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) also holds an important place in the investigation file. Defne Soyer stated that the MASAK report did not detect any money movement or irregularity against Tunç Soyer. "According to the MASAK report, Tunç Soyer has no financial relationship with any cooperative management, audit, or subcontractors. There is no suspicious money movement. It is also clear that he did not get rich during his 15-year tenure as mayor. The report prepared by the state says this, but Tunç Soyer is still in detention," she noted.

LAWYERS DEMAND RELEASE

Defne Soyer criticized the continuation of her father's detention despite all evidence having been collected within the scope of the investigation, saying, "We now expect the immediate release of Tunç Soyer." Furthermore, stating that the prosecutor in the file where the second detention decision was issued has also changed for the second time, Soyer emphasized that a total of three different prosecutors and court panels have changed in the ten-month period.

Tunç Soyer's other lawyer, Murat Aydın, stated in a post on social media, "As a result of all the examinations conducted on those who have been in detention for over four months in the investigation that has been ongoing for two years, no evidence of a crime has been found. And it will not be found because there is no act that constitutes a crime. The detention, which has been ongoing since July and has lasted 311 days, other files opened for the same incident when it was seen that no conditions for remaining in detention in one file were met, backup of backup arrests, constantly changing judges, prosecutors... The severe violation of individual rights and freedoms continues. Those who cannot find a non-existent crime do not complete the investigation, and the detention period continues to extend. Despite all the negativity, our demand for justice, our struggle, and our hope for beautiful days to come continue and will continue."