Breaking News: New development in the trial of TÜSİAD executives!

TÜSİAD High Advisory Council President Ömer Aras, in a statement regarding the recent increase in detentions and arrests, had stated: "Elected mayors are being removed from office and replaced by trustees. An investigation is launched against a political party leader, and then they are arrested for a different reason. Investigations are opened against a metropolitan mayor minutes after a press conference due to speeches they made. Journalists who publish expert opinions are being detained, and the editor-in-chief is being arrested. Newly graduated lieutenants are being dismissed from the army. We can say that these events, which have occurred one after another in a very short time, have created anxiety in society and shaken confidence."

Following these remarks, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation against Aras on charges of "attempting to influence a fair trial and publicly disseminating false information." After the remarks made by AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on January 19, stating, "You will know your place in the New Turkey. If you are a business association, you will learn to act like a business association. You will not provoke the nation, and you will not attempt to put pressure on the judiciary," TÜSİAD President Orhan Turan was also included in the case file.

NEW JUDGE IN COURT, NO VERDICT REACHED

The second hearing of the case was held today at 14:00 at the Istanbul 28th Criminal Court of First Instance. The prosecutor reiterated their previous opinion. However, the newly appointed judge to the case stated that there were missing elements and announced that a verdict would not be reached in this session. Defense attorneys objected to the announcement at the beginning of the hearing that no verdict would be reached.

Taking the floor at the hearing, TÜSİAD President Orhan Turan said, "As someone born and raised in the heart of Anatolia, I am always working to contribute to the development, economy, and prosperity of this country. The speech that led to my defense is also based solely on my observations. The entirety and essence of my speech relate to the fact that the goal of economic development can only be achieved with a reliable and predictable legal system. There can be no motive to create anxiety, fear, or panic among our people, among whom I was born and raised. I have not made any technical legal assessments. I request my acquittal."

"MY SPEECH WAS TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT"

Ömer Aras, in his statement, said, "I absolutely do not accept the prosecutor's request for punishment. I believe that such a request should never and under no circumstances be accepted in a state of law that is based on freedoms. Looking at the grounds put forward for my punishment, I see that my defenses were not valued and that my speech was taken out of context by not including all of my sentences, as was done in the indictment. I also witness that my punishment is requested based on abstract expressions and assumptions without a convincing justification. I consider this to be contrary to the law and a fair trial. I believe that the state of lack of justification, which began with the indictment and continued with the opinion on the merits, reveals my innocence."

"ECONOMY AND LAW ARE INTERTWINED"

Aras emphasized that his statements did not exceed the association's objectives, stating, "There is no situation in my speech that exceeds the association's objectives or is contrary to the association's objectives. I addressed many issues by speaking to the general assembly. All the issues I touched upon are related to the economy. It is an accepted scientific reality that there is a very close relationship between the economy and the law. For this reason, it is not contrary to the association's purpose for me to factually address issues that attract intense interest in society, are discussed in the context of legal security, and are understood to have economic effects, and to express my personal opinion on their effects. The part of my speech that is the subject of the judiciary consists of personal evaluations. It never contains an unlawful purpose or bad intent."

"ALL OF IT IS WITHIN THE SCOPE OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION"

Aras stated, "Just as I did not act with the intention of influencing the judiciary, I did not aim to create anxiety and panic in society. I stated that I have not lost my hope for the future of our country. I never stated that there is no rule of law, as the prosecutor alleged in their opinion on the merits. In my speech, regarding the events subject to the accusation, I said, 'We cannot say whether there is a crime in these events or not.' This expression of mine is clear proof that I did not make any comments regarding the correctness or incorrectness of judicial decisions. On the other hand, I have not shared any information contrary to the truth in any part of my speech. I would also like to underline that it is not shown in either the indictment or the opinion on the merits which information is contrary to the truth. Whether my speech is taken in its own context or taken out of context as it was done in this trial, the result will not change. All of my sentences are within the scope of freedom of expression. I request my acquittal."

It was stated that the next hearing will be held on January 20.

News Source: 12punto