Journalists barred from trial of Özlem Çerçioğlu

An unexpected development occurred today during a hearing in Aydın for a case involving a total of 33 defendants, including Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Özlem Çerçioğlu. Members of the press were not permitted to enter the courtroom for this case, which is closely followed by the public and concerns allegations of 'bid rigging' and 'misconduct in office.' Despite the absence of any confidentiality order, the fact that the court proceedings were held behind closed doors drew attention.

In the case, where 25 of the defendants are accused of bid rigging and 8 are accused of misconduct in office, the allegations concern certain tenders held between 2013 and 2015 at the Aydın Metropolitan Municipality, the now-defunct Aydın Municipality Private Secretary's Office, the ASKİ General Directorate, and the Efeler Municipality. Various files were consolidated into a single case file as part of the investigation.

Following today's session in the legal process, which has been ongoing for approximately 10 years, the next hearing of the case was adjourned to February 25. Journalists who wished to attend the hearing as observers were unable to enter the courtroom despite the lack of a formal order, making it difficult to obtain information regarding the proceedings held inside.

News Source: 12punto