If Eylem Tok and her son are not extradited, they will be tried in the US: Decision day is June 18

Aslı AĞIRDİL/ 12punto.com.tr

Writer Eylem Tok and her son Timur Cihantimur, who fled first to Egypt and then to the US following the traffic accident in Istanbul's Eyüpsultan district on March 1 that caused the death of Oğuz Murat Aci, have been taken into custody during an operation at the house where they were staying.

The news was announced by Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç. Making a statement on his social media account, Minister Tunç said, "According to the information we received today from US Department of Justice officials, Eylem Tok and Timur Cihantimur have been apprehended in the US within the scope of our extradition request. We are closely following the process as a ministry."

EYLEM TOK MAY COME, TİMUR MAY REMAIN

12punto reached Hacı Orhan, the lawyer for Özer Aci, the father of Oğuz Murat Aci, who said the following regarding Tok's extradition process to Turkey:

"The extradition treaty gives the parties the right not to extradite their own citizens. It says; you may choose not to extradite your citizen. It has excluded certain crimes. Here, there is a common crime. A traffic accident. It is not related to the sovereign rights of the countries, which is why we say that both of them can be extradited here. We cannot fully predict whether America will decide to extradite its citizen or not, but we can clearly say this; if America extradites them, they will be tried in Turkey; if it does not extradite them, it will try them itself.

There is a possibility that they might not be extradited. It is unlikely for Ms. Eylem, but it could be for the child. Ms. Eylem will come here one way or another."

Stating that Eylem Tok and her son are currently detained, lawyer Orhan added the following to his remarks:

"They have their second court hearing on the 18th. They will appear before the court again on Tuesday to be tried. The judge will make their decision there.

The Ministry is following the extradition process. We cannot follow it personally because it is in America. We can receive information through them with the Ministry's follow-up."

News Source: 12punto