CHP Istanbul Provincial Chair Özgür Çelik appears in court

Ten defendants, including CHP Istanbul Provincial Chair Özgür Çelik, Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat, and Beyoğlu Mayor İnan Güney, are appearing in court for the first time today over allegations that fraud was committed during the Republican People's Party (CHP) Istanbul Provincial Congress held on October 8, 2023. The hearing will be held by the Istanbul 72nd Criminal Court of First Instance at the Marmara Penal Execution Institutions Silivri Campus. In the case where 10 defendants, including CHP Provincial Chair Özgür Çelik, are appearing in court for the first time over allegations of fraud at the Republican People's Party (CHP) Istanbul Provincial Congress, non-detained defendant Özgür Çelik has arrived at the courtroom.

In the indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office Organized Crime Investigation Bureau to be sent to the Istanbul Civil Court of First Instance with a request for consolidation, the CHP Headquarters, CHP Istanbul Provincial Presidency, Aydın Karaaslan, Fahrettin Çırak, İnan Güney, Melda Tanişman Tutan, Niyazi Güneri, Özgür Çelik, Rıza Akpolat, Tülay Yavuz, Uğur Gökdemir, and Veli Gümüş were listed as 'defendants'.

It was requested that the decisions taken at the congress be annulled.

The prepared indictment stated that the defendant Republican People's Party Istanbul Provincial Presidency committed fraud in the election held to ensure that a competing candidate (Özgür Çelik) won, by providing financial benefits to delegates and promising to hire their relatives in order to secure their votes for a candidate. The indictment requested the annulment of the CHP Istanbul Provincial Congress held on October 8, 2023, and the decisions taken at this congress.

The indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office requested that 10 people, including CHP Istanbul Provincial Chair Özgür Çelik, Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat, and Beyoğlu Mayor İnan Güney, be sentenced to 1 to 3 years in prison for the crime of 'committing fraud in political party congress elections'.

News Source: İHA