Former Zorlu Holding CEO Cem Köksal acquitted

Former Zorlu Holding CEO Cem Köksal replied to an email containing a Ramadan greeting sent to the entire company by Vestel CEO Ergün Güler on Friday, February 28, stating that such an event was not on the company's list of celebration days and that similar incidents should not happen again. Following this development, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an ex officio investigation into Köksal. 

Cem Köksal appeared before the judge today at the Istanbul 24th Criminal Court of First Instance at the Çağlayan Courthouse for the first hearing of the case, in which he faced a prison sentence ranging from 1 year and 3 months to 5 years and 3 months. The hearing was attended by former Zorlu Holding CEO Cem Köksal, the sender of the email Ergün Güler, and their lawyers.

'I DO NOT INTERFERE WITH ANYONE'S BELIEFS'

In his defense during the hearing, Köksal stated that he has a monthly income of 500 thousand liras and said, 'My statements at the police station and the prosecutor's office remain valid. I did not engage in any act that would hinder anyone's freedom of religion and conscience. The matter is entirely related to internal corporate communication. I joined the Zorlu Group 28 years ago, served in various positions, and I know the corporate operations of the business well. 

Ergün Güler is also a close friend of mine from the time we worked within the holding. Over the years, we served in the same group; he even used to address me as 'master.' We had no hostility between us. 

'IT WAS AN EMAIL THAT DID NOT COMPLY WITH THE PROCEDURE'

I saw Ergün Bey's email while I was sitting in the evening on the day of the incident. The email message was sent from a corporate email address. The email contained content that did not comply with corporate procedure. I checked whether we celebrate Ramadan corporately and learned that we do not. I wanted to warn Ergün Bey by sending the message you have seen because it did not comply with corporate communication principles. However, I accidentally clicked the 'reply all' option and sent it to everyone. When I received a few pieces of feedback, I realized that the message had been forwarded to a wide group. I reached out to an authorized person to retract the message and we started working to recall it. 

Every year, we make a list of holidays that we will celebrate corporately. I would like to state that the incident occurred not because of the Ramadan celebration, but because it did not comply with corporate procedures. I did not commit the crime I am accused of. I do not interfere with anyone's beliefs. I would have issued the same warning if it had been any other email that did not comply with the procedure,' he said.

WHAT HAD HAPPENED?

A disagreement between former Zorlu Holding CEO Cem Köksal and Ergün Güler, the CEO of Vestel, which is part of the holding, over greeting messages sent for the month of Ramadan had been reflected in the public eye. 

Following the Ramadan greeting message sent by Ergün Güler to the employees, it was alleged that Cem Köksal had sent an email to all units stating that messages with religious content should not be sent. Upon the increase in reactions, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an ex officio investigation into the matter. Köksal, who was detained within the scope of the investigation, was taken to the Istanbul Police Department.

News Source: 12punto