New ruling for Mehmet Pehlivan in 'fake diploma' case

The second hearing of the "fake diploma" case involving the Republican People's Party (CHP) presidential candidate and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who is currently in detention, will be held today at the Marmara Closed Penal Execution Institution courtroom in Silivri.

In the "fake diploma case" where İmamoğlu, who has been held at Silivri Prison since March 23, is being tried, the court has changed its decision regarding the remote participation of his detained lawyer, Mehmet Pehlivan.

İmamoğlu's detained lawyer, Pehlivan, will not be able to attend the hearing via the Audio and Video Information System (SEGBİS).

According to the report by Can Öztürk from T24; The first hearing of the case in which CHP's detained presidential candidate and IBB Mayor İmamoğlu is being tried on charges of "chain forgery of official documents" was held on September 12 at the Marmara Closed Penal Execution Institution in Silivri.

The judge of the Istanbul 59th Criminal Court of First Instance had approved the request for İmamoğlu's lawyer, Mehmet Pehlivan, to attend the hearing via a SEGBİS connection from Çorlu Closed Prison. Pehlivan connected to the hearing via SEGBİS but did not present a defense, stating that he wished to attend the hearing in person.

The court had rejected Pehlivan's request to be present in person at the hearing, but had ruled that a SEGBİS connection be provided for the second hearing.

The prosecution filed an objection to the interim ruling that allowed Pehlivan to attend the hearing via SEGBİS.

Evaluating the prosecution's objection, the judge of the Istanbul 59th Criminal Court of First Instance reversed their previous decision and denied Pehlivan permission to connect via SEGBİS.

HE HAD PARTICIPATED VIA SEGBİS IN THE FIRST HEARING

In the first hearing, the judge had approved the SEGBİS connection, stating that there was no legal obstacle to Pehlivan's participation.

Pehlivan had attended the hearing via the connection; however, he refused to present a defense because he was not wearing his robe and could not meet with his client, İmamoğlu, in person. Pehlivan stated via the connection, "This situation constitutes a violation of most principles of a fair trial. I refuse to present a defense without being allowed to meet with my client, without being in the courtroom, and without wearing my robe."

News Source: 12punto