Minister Gürlek: I want Mr. Ekrem to make his defense without engaging in political polemics

Minister of Justice Gürlek made statements regarding the corruption and bribery investigations conducted into municipalities during a live broadcast on TRT Haber.

Stating that the statements of suspects who benefit from effective remorse provisions are important in the investigations, Minister Gürlek said that operations are not carried out based solely on the statements of informants, and that all allegations are supported by concrete evidence.

Emphasizing that the investigations into municipalities are being conducted in line with reports and complaints reaching the Chief Public Prosecutor's Offices, statements made within the scope of effective remorse, MASAK reports, financial transactions, and other material evidence, Minister Gürlek said, "There are incoming reports, complaints, statements from individuals who have sought effective remorse, MASAK reports, money traffic, and evidence. These are generally material evidence. An operation phase is initiated by evaluating the material evidence.

Generally, statements of effective remorse are effective. I saw this during my time as a chief prosecutor, especially in the IMM operations; internal dissolution is important. Because after a certain point, they decide they want to become an informant and they talk, especially describing the actions they have committed themselves, and describing the actions committed by others. Let me say this, I want to emphasize it absolutely: no operation is carried out based solely on the statement of an informant.

All our chief prosecutors must substantiate this in this way. Material evidence is required. A MASAK report is obtained, HTS traffic is checked, and it is checked whether there is a money movement as stated. It is done in a verified manner. Sometimes technical surveillance can be carried out. Whether they are transporting money to create a crime base, whether they have received the money, these can be done. These are ongoing processes that are at the discretion of our chief prosecutors," he said.

Responding to a question regarding the cases against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and the attitude of Ekrem İmamoğlu, who is being tried, in the hearings, Minister Gürlek said that courtrooms are not areas where political debates are conducted. Reminding that he also served as a presiding judge in the past, Minister Gürlek noted that trials are conducted only within the framework of the evidence in the file and legal rules.

Minister Gürlek spoke as follows:

"I have also served as a presiding judge. This cannot happen. Courts are definitely not arenas for political propaganda. In courts, no one can point a finger at the panel conducting the trial or the prosecutor. They cannot hold them accountable by saying, 'You will be tried in two days.' The defendant Ekrem İmamoğlu is constantly doing this in the file. He is engaging in polemics. In my opinion, Ekrem İmamoğlu should actually be making his defense regarding the crimes he is accused of. He should refute them; that is, the prosecution presented an allegation. They said, 'I am accusing you of 143 acts.' While Ekrem İmamoğlu should be proving with his lawyers that these acts are not as alleged, but rather like this, he wants to pull the event into different channels instead. That is, propaganda is definitely not done in courts; trials are conducted. Court panels are also not influenced by this propaganda.

Ekrem İmamoğlu is frankly trying to turn this into a political show material as a political arena, and we have followed this from the public. He is constantly creating polemics. He even takes it further. He says, 'We will try you.' He even says to me, 'We will try you, the day will come.' He says, 'You will be tried.' It cannot be like this. These things cannot happen. Courts have rules. Trials are conducted. Decisions are made on behalf of the Turkish nation based on concrete evidence in the file and according to conscience.

What Ekrem İmamoğlu is doing here is not pleasant. If he is disrupting the peace and discipline of the court, the court has to do what is necessary, and as I understand it, he was removed from the courtroom in the last hearing. It has to do this. In courts, defense is made, and evidence is discussed. Lawyers try to refute the evidence in turn and ask for the right to speak. But Ekrem İmamoğlu is completely, even though it is not his turn to defend, trying to pull the event into different channels and into a political arena. He wants to politicize the event. It is as if there is no issue of 143 acts, but rather 'Sir, I am a political figure, that is why an operation was carried out against me, that is why a lawsuit was filed.' He is trying to say this, but this attitude is wrong. Courts are not influenced by this either. That is, they make decisions based on the evidence in the file."

Stating that the trial process is continuing in accordance with the procedure, Minister Gürlek said that the court first takes the defenses of the detained defendants, then the non-detained defendants, and then the statements of the lawyers and witnesses will be heard.

Reminding that the trial was paused due to the judicial recess, Minister Gürlek stated that it is important for the healthy progress of the trial that the defendants make legal defenses regarding the allegations against them instead of engaging in political debates.

Minister Gürlek, citing his own time as a presiding judge as an example, said, "I want Mr. Ekrem and the other individuals on trial to conduct their defense and the trial based on the evidence in the file, without engaging in political polemics. The court is also adhering to this. Ultimately, you cannot disrupt the peace and order of the hearing. If you disrupt the peace and order, the law grants powers to the judge and the presiding judge. They have to apply these," he said.

News Source: 12punto