New lawsuit against TÜSİAD chairs: Indictment prepared for Orhan Turan and Mehmet Ömer Arif Aras

The investigation conducted against the Turkish Industry and Business Association (TÜSİAD) Chairman Orhan Turan and High Advisory Council Chairman Mehmet Ömer Arif Aras on charges of "attempting to influence a fair trial" has concluded. The indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office states that Turan and Aras made various assessments regarding political, legal, judicial, and administrative issues without knowing their content.

The indictment notes that the two individuals created public perception during numerous judicial processes. It is stated that they gave messages to the public within the framework of the fire in Bolu Kartalkaya that claimed 78 lives, the earthquakes that occurred, the landslide at the gold mine in Erzincan İliç, various mayors and the appointment of trustees to these municipalities, statements regarding Zafer Party Chairman Ümit Özdağ, expressions concerning manager Ayşe Barım, and the investigations conducted against the detained Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. It was recorded that during these processes, they "emphasized the rule of law and an independent judiciary, stating that the principle of a fair trial and the rule of law were not being followed in ongoing investigations."

It was alleged that Turan and Aras used the influence of their positions and titles to spread misleading information, thereby creating a crisis of confidence in state institutions within society.

The indictment argues that the statements made were of a nature that could influence the judges, prosecutors, expert witnesses, and witnesses involved in the ongoing investigations, and that these individuals were prevented from performing their duties impartially.

Furthermore, it was claimed that the evaluation of evidence and the formation of conscientious conviction on a sound basis were hindered. It was stated that the suspects, "drawing strength from their positions in the economic sphere and their roles as chairs of a broad-based structure like TÜSİAD, made misleading statements to the public in the nature of suggestions."

According to the indictment, the statements of Aras and Turan were found not to fall within the scope of freedom of expression, and it was argued that they "provided information that disturbed public peace regarding the existence of lawlessness and a trust problem, and provided false and misleading information to manipulate those performing judicial duties on legal matters." Additionally, it was emphasized that these words undermined society's trust in the justice system and damaged the sense of security based on law in the country.

The prosecution requested that the two individuals be sentenced to judicial fines of no less than 50 days on the grounds that they committed the crime of "attempting to influence a fair trial" in a chain manner. The indictment was sent to the Istanbul 28th Criminal Court of First Instance, noting that it is connected to the file in which Turan and Aras are being tried for "publicly disseminating misleading information" and face a prison sentence of 1 year and 10 months to 5 years and 6 months.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Following TÜSİAD's criticisms of the government at its general assembly on February 13, an investigation was launched against Board Chairman Orhan Turan and High Advisory Council Chairman Ömer Aras.

Turan and Aras were taken to give statements under police escort on February 19 as part of the investigation. After their procedures at the police station, Aras and Turan were brought to the prosecutor's office, referred to the duty magistrate on February 20, and released with a travel ban and judicial control conditions.

The investigation launched regarding the allegation that Turan and Aras "used expressions containing suggestions and direction for the judiciary" was completed by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, and the prepared indictment requested prison sentences of up to 5 years, 6 months, and 15 days for each.

AKP'S ZEYBEKCİ: IT WAS NOT STYLISH

On April 29, months after the incident, AKP Deputy Chairman Nihat Zeybekci paid a visit to TÜSİAD. In his statement regarding the visit, Zeybekci said, "It is not stylish for the TÜSİAD Chairman to be taken to give a statement under police escort." Zeybekci stated, "During my time as Minister of Economy, I was the minister of the AK Party government who issued those green passports so that our industrialists, exporters, and representatives of the business world could travel the world easily and travel to Europe easily. It is not stylish for the TÜSİAD Chairman to be taken to give a statement under police escort."

News Source: İHA