In his defense during the hearing, detained retired police officer Adem Kuru stated that he did not know Aziz İhsan Aktaş, saying, "I have never seen Aziz İhsan Aktaş in my life, I don't know him. I have no connection to him whatsoever, near or far."
Detained defendant Cem Çebi stated that he was both a relative of and a driver for Selahattin Yılmaz, and denied the accusations. Çebi said, "I have never been involved in any criminal organization to this day. I did not receive any orders or instructions regarding this incident. I have never seen Aziz İhsan Aktaş in my life. I only heard his name at the police station."
Speaking as the complainant, Aziz İhsan Aktaş stated that he had become a target due to the statements he provided under the effective remorse provisions, saying, "I helped our state by benefiting from the effective remorse provisions. I explained what I knew to the judicial authorities with full clarity."
Stating that he had received information about threats against him from his close circle following his release, Aktaş said, "I was told that I had become a target because of the statements I gave under the effective remorse provisions. I was told that I was on a death list and that an armed attack would be carried out against me and my family. I am under protection due to this assassination attempt."
Regarding the allegation of an attack targeting him and his family, Aktaş said, "When I have no personal acquaintance or hostility with these people, why does the name Aziz İhsan Aktaş appear in the messages? Why does it appear together with the phrase 'gas station'? This means they know not only my name but also the address of my company's gas station."
Demanding that the defendants be punished, Aktaş said, "I request that the incident be evaluated with all evidence, and I am a complainant and plaintiff against all those responsible for this act targeting me and my family. I demand that they be punished. The decision your court will make is necessary not only for me but for everyone who tells what they know for the security of the state. I trust in justice. The discretion is your court's."
"How was I to know he would become a whistleblower three months later?"
Detained defendant Selahattin Yılmaz argued that the message he sent, which was also included in the indictment, had nothing to do with preparing an attack, saying, "This message of mine was sent in February. You were not under effective remorse in February for me to assassinate you. How was I to know you would become a whistleblower three months later?"
"I have been buying gas there for 25 years"
Stating that he had been using the gas station in question for about 25 years, Yılmaz said, "I have been buying gas there for 25 years. My office is on the right, my house is on the left. When I left my house, I saw it was closed. When I saw it was closed, I wondered, 'What happened?' and asked my friend. If the bagel seller near your house closes, you would ask about that too. I asked naturally."
Yılmaz denied the allegation that he was preparing an assassination against Aktaş, saying, "This message was three months before he became a whistleblower. How was I to know he would become a whistleblower three months later?"
6 defendants released
In the first hearing of the case, the court ordered the release of detained defendants Adem Kuru, Cem Çebi, İsa Aydın, Mehmet Tuğlu, Mustafa Serdar Yılmaz, and Özgür Kılıç. Ruling that the detention of Selahattin Yılmaz and Cem Duman should continue, the court adjourned the hearing to October 5.
News Source: 12punto
