Revealed in court: Mehmet Ali Ağca has changed his surname

Journalist Abdi İpekçi murder perpetrator Mehmet Ali Ağca's surname change to Aslan was revealed during a trial where he is being tried as a defendant for the crime of "forcibly seizing a person's home."

TRIAL PROCEEDINGS HAVE BEGUN

The trial of 5 defendants, including Mehmet Ali Ağca, who were charged with "extortion" for allegedly seizing a person's home in Bahçelievler, Istanbul, through threats, has begun. The hearing at the Bakırköy 24th High Criminal Court was attended by non-custodial defendants Mehmet Ali Aslan (Ağca), Gökhan Erdal, Muhittin Erdal, and Reyhan Erdal.

The complainant Gökhan Soylu and the lawyers for the parties were also present at the hearing. The court panel recorded in the minutes that the arrest warrant for the defendant Ahmet Çetin had not been executed.

HE CHANGED HIS SURNAME

In the court report prepared by Anadolu Agency, Mehmet Ali Ağca's name was given as "Mehmet Ali Aslan." His former surname, "Ağca," was presented to the reader in parentheses. Making his defense at the hearing, the defendant Aslan (Ağca) denied the accusations against him, claiming that he did not know the complainant or the other defendants.

HE MADE A DEFENSE

Claiming that he bought the house in question through a person named "Ayhan," whom he knew to be from Erzurum and who had operated a restaurant in the past, Aslan (Ağca) stated that he bought the house as a favor to Ayhan.

Defendant Aslan (Ağca), stating that he only saw one of the defendants, Ahmet Çetin, with the person named "Ayhan," said,"Ahmet Çetin did not give any advice regarding the purchase of this apartment. I got into this business directly through Ayhan. If I remember correctly, I bought the apartment for around 110 thousand liras. I remember making the payment in cash. At Ayhan's request, I sold this house a short time later. I don't remember how much I sold it for. Some time after the sale, Ayhan called me and said that the person who sold the house claimed it was sold too cheaply and wanted 1 million liras, and that he would 'burn us' if we didn't pay. Ayhan also referred to this person as a 'loan shark.' As far as I learned, Ayhan had business dealings with the complainant. I definitely did not threaten the complainant. I request my acquittal." he said.

Defendant Reyhan Erdal, who presented her defense during the hearing, explained that the apartment in question had previously been registered in her mother's name and that she sold it due to debt.

DEMANDED ACQUITTAL

Stating that she wanted to buy the house after learning it was put up for sale by the defendant Mehmet Ali Aslan (Ağca), Erdal said, "My father made a portion of the payment in cash, and I took out a loan for the rest. I bought this house for 115 thousand liras. I have no knowledge of the commercial relationship between the complainant and my uncle, Muhittin Erdal. I have no knowledge of how Mehmet Ali Aslan (Ağca) acquired this house. I request my acquittal."

"I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT WILL HAPPEN"

Complainant Gökhan Soylu stated that the property in question was not transferred to him in exchange for debts owed by Muhittin Erdal, and that he had purchased this property by paying the price in cash.

Gökhan Soylu noted the following:

"We met at an office in Bakırköy. The defendant Mehmet Ali asked me to transfer the apartment. I did not accept his request, stating that I had acquired this apartment by paying for it. The defendant then began to threaten me. He said, 'You have a family and children, are you not afraid at all?' In another meeting, one of the defendants, Ahmet Çetin, called Mehmet Ali Ağca via video call. Mehmet Ali told me, 'If you do not transfer the title deed, I am not responsible for what will happen.' He told me he knew the location of my house, what time my children go to work and come home, and that he had us followed before. Fearing the threats made, I was forced to transfer the property to Mehmet Ali. I did not file a complaint earlier because I was afraid of the defendant."

Taking the floor again, the defendant Aslan stated, "Between 2015 and 2022, I purchased 5 or 6 properties worth 1.5 million dollars. I could not be involved in such a matter for a 2-bedroom, dilapidated house. A person named Ayhan set a trap for me and dragged me into this incident."

The court decided to hear witnesses at the next session and adjourned the hearing.

THE INDICTMENT

The indictment prepared by the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office states that the defendants, acting in unity of thought and action, committed the crime of robbery together with more than one person.

The indictment requests that the defendants Mehmet Ali Aslan (Ağca), Reyhan Erdal, Muhittin Erdal, Gökhan Erdal, and Ahmet Çetin each be sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison for the crime of "robbery committed by more than one person together."

News Source: 12punto