Prosecutor's opinion announced in the case of threatening Prosecutor Yavuz Engin: Up to 8 years in prison requested for defendant Mustafa Kemal Zengin

The trial of 13 defendants, including Mustafa Kemal Zengin, who threatened Public Prosecutor Yavuz Engin—the prosecutor leading the 'Newborn Gang' investigation—in his office, continued. The hearing held at the Bakırköy 21st High Criminal Court was attended by complainant Beydanur Danaş, the only jailed defendant in the case, Mustafa Kemal Zengin, 5 non-custodial defendants, and the lawyers of the parties.

"I am not a complainant, I do not want to participate in the case"

Testifying at the hearing, complainant Beydanur Danaş said, "I have known Aylin Arslantatar for 20 years because she is my mother's friend. I had a case regarding complainant Halil Emre Yılmaz. It was a case regarding threats I received from his family. We called Aylin to be my lawyer. During this process, I went to Aylin's office. When I went there, I saw Mustafa Kemal Zengin there two or three times. I met Mustafa Kemal Zengin as Aylin's friend. Mustafa Kemal Zengin started to become familiar with my issues. Even though I changed my number, the threats continued. Mustafa Kemal Zengin told me, 'We will talk, we will handle it, we will solve this issue. Don't be afraid. I will even talk to the other side if necessary.' That is why he sent my and Halil Emre Yılmaz's numbers to my mother, Aylin Arslantatar. She sent them to Mustafa Kemal Zengin to make contact. My number was given only for communication to be established. My mobile phone number was already with Arslantatar. It was sent to Mustafa Kemal Zengin so that I could be called if something happened. I was pressured during my statement at the Büyükçekmece Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. I was afraid because my numbers were shared and my conversations were intercepted. That is why I said I was a complainant. I am not a complainant, I do not want to participate in the case."

"Engin told me, 'This is not a normal call at all, let's keep a record'"

Testifying as a 'witness' at the hearing, complainant Yavuz Engin's clerk O.Ö. said, "I worked with Prosecutor Yavuz for nearly two and a half years. I did not see him being threatened, but during the time we were working on the newborn file, Prosecutor Engin's phone rang. Engin put the phone on speaker and started talking. The voice on the phone said, 'Yavuz, we need to talk, you have arrested someone, they are very angry at you. These people are very dangerous, they know everything about you.' Upon this, Prosecutor Engin took the phone off speaker, went to the window, and started talking; they talked for a long time. After the phone call ended, I asked what the matter was. The prosecutor told me that the caller was a lawyer named Aylin and that they were trying to get a release in the newborn case. Engin told me, 'This is not a normal call at all, let's keep a record of this.' That is all I know."

Non-custodial defendant Aylin Arslantatar, who presented her defense, said, "I am being declared guilty because I acted with the instinct to protect babies. It is clear and obvious that I approached this in a friendly manner. If it were today, I would protect Yavuz again. I performed my civic duty. I request that my judicial control measure be lifted."

Request for up to 8 years in prison for Zengin

At the hearing, the Public Prosecutor, who announced their opinion on the merits, requested that defendant Mustafa Kemal Zengin be sentenced to a total of 4 to 8 years in prison for the crimes of 'unlawfully obtaining personal data' and 'resisting to prevent the performance of duty.' The prosecution requested that defendant Aylin Arslantatar be sentenced to 2 to 4 years in prison for the crime of 'unlawfully obtaining personal data.' Furthermore, the Public Prosecutor requested the separate acquittal of the other 11 defendants on the grounds that the alleged crimes were not established.

The court panel, which announced its interim decision, ruled that time should be given for the parties to present their defenses and statements against the announced opinion, and adjourned the hearing.

News Source: 12punto