Grand National Assembly of Turkey appeals: Compensation shock for former CHP deputy who smashed mobile phone on podium

CHP Muğla Deputy Burak Erbay smashed his mobile phone with a hammer on the podium during a speech he gave at the General Assembly of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) on October 12, 2022. 

This action by Erbay was taken to court by the Speaker of the Parliament on the grounds that it caused damage to the podium and constituted damage to public property.

The Speaker of the TBMM applied to the Ankara 21st Civil Court of First Instance, requesting material compensation from the former deputy.

In the defense submitted to the court, Erbay's lawyer stated that his client had planned the phone-smashing act in a way that would not damage the podium and that he had smashed the device on a specially placed sponge. According to the lawyer, all safety precautions had been taken and there was no question of damage being caused to the podium.

Following the evaluations, the court of first instance ruled in favor of Erbay and rejected the compensation claim of the Speaker of the TBMM.

However, this decision was appealed by the Speaker of the Parliament.

Re-examining the case file, the 25th Civil Chamber of the Ankara Regional Court of Justice overturned the local court's decision. The court stated that Burak Erbay's action had damaged the parliamentary podium and ruled that he must pay 10 thousand 800 Turkish Lira in material compensation to the Speaker of the TBMM.

The text of the decision emphasized that there were camera recordings and minutes prepared on the day of the incident showing that Erbay had applied physical force to the podium, and therefore there was a clear link between the action and the damage caused. The court also found that the court of first instance's failure to rule for the compensation of this damage was not in accordance with the law.

This development has led to a renewed debate regarding the boundaries and responsibilities of deputies concerning their actions on the parliamentary podium.

News Source: AA