Trial of chief physician who raped a doctor held: Sexual assault on a stretcher

In an incident that took place in May 2020 at a private hospital in Lüleburgaz, a foreign national female doctor, E.V., was subjected to sexual assault by chief physician Abdullah Çiftçi.

Following the incident, Dr. V. went to Edirne, where her family lived, and after receiving psychological support, she went to the police station.

GAVE MEDICATION AND INVITED HER TO DRINK ALCOHOL

In her statement to the police, Dr. E.V. stated that after she broke up with her boyfriend, the chief physician gave her medication to help her relax, and that same day, while she was working in the emergency room, he came to her and gave her a second dose of the same medication. Explaining that Chief Physician Çiftçi invited her to his office in the evening to drink alcohol, E.V. stated that after his insistence, she drank a glass of wine and began to feel increasingly unwell.

SEXUAL ASSAULT ON A STRETCHER

According to the report in Halk TV, E.V. stated that she felt unwell, and that the chief physician locked the office door, turned off the lights, and sexually assaulted her on a stretcher. E.V. stated that when she woke up, she saw that all her clothes were on the floor and that the chief physician was also naked. Abdullah Çiftçi, who was detained upon the complaint, was arrested on June 19, 2020, by the court he was brought to after his procedures at the police station. While the trial was ongoing, Chief Physician Çiftçi was released.

15-YEAR SENTENCE FOR 'QUALIFIED SEXUAL ASSAULT'

The accused, Abdullah Çiftçi, emphasized that the sexual intercourse he had with E.V. was consensual. In the case heard at the Kırklareli 1st High Criminal Court, the court sentenced Çiftçi to 15 years in prison for the crime of 'qualified sexual assault' against E.V.

COURT OF CASSATION OVERTURNED THE APPELLATE COURT'S DECISION

In the file that went to the Appellate Court, the court overturned the local court's decision and ordered the release of Dr. Çiftçi. The Appellate Court then carried the decision to the Court of Cassation, and the 9th Criminal Chamber overturned the Appellate Court's decision. Following the reversal, the file came to the Istanbul Regional Court of Justice once again and was heard in the 25th Criminal Chamber. The Istanbul Regional Court of Justice complied with the Court of Cassation's reversal decision.

SENT TO PRISON

In the hearing held today, the Chamber issued an arrest warrant for Dr. Çiftçi, who had been sentenced to 15 years in prison. It was reported that Çiftçi, who was learned to be present at the hearing, was sent to prison.