Testimony of Ender Saraç’s son in sexual abuse case revealed!

Dr. Mehmet Ender Saraç continues to stand trial over allegations that he committed 'sexual abuse' against his 13-year-old son, M.S., in Beşiktaş between 2017 and 2021. The hearing at the Istanbul 34th High Criminal Court was attended by the defendant, Ender Saraç, who is being tried without arrest, and the complainant, Benan Saraç. The complainant child, M.S. (14), connected via the Audio and Visual Information System (SEGBİS), and lawyers for both sides were also present.

“THE REASON I GAVE THAT STATEMENT INITIALLY…”

Giving his statement in the presence of a pedagogue from the Ministry of Family and Social Services, the complainant child M.S. stated that his initial testimony was not true, saying, “My second statement, in which I indicated that the sexual abuse incident was not real, is the correct one. The reason I gave that statement initially was because my mother and father had separated.”

“MY PURPOSE IN DOING THIS…”

Stating in his testimony that his father constantly told him he smelled bad, M.S. said, “He was constantly interfering with what I ate and drank. He was trying to keep me under control. He was constantly pressuring my mother to reconcile. I had hidden sticks around the house; I was scared. I finally resorted to this path. I first told my mother about the abuse incident; she didn't believe me. Eventually, she had no choice but to believe it. I had gone to school even though I was on medical leave; my mother didn't know. My purpose in doing this was so that after I told my guidance counselor about the incident, my father would come there, feel ashamed, and think that he could no longer put me under pressure.”

“MY FATHER DID NOT ABUSE ME”

Explaining that the reason he gave a different statement previously was because his father was constantly blaming his mother, Benan Saraç, he said, “I had a fear of God. I resorted to this path because he was pressuring me. My father did not abuse me. I last saw my father 2 years ago. My father had physically attacked my mother. Because I thought he would kill my mother out of anger that his ‘career was shaken,’ I told my mother the truth. I am requesting a lifetime restraining order against my father from the court.”

“I AM ONE HUNDRED PERCENT SURE OF MY INNOCENCE”

Presenting his defense by claiming that the child's first statement was memorized, Ender Saraç said, “The truth is the statement he gave later. I haven't seen my son for 8 months. His voice has changed, and I miss him very much. Therefore, it is impossible for me to have ensured he gave a statement by making him memorize something. I am one hundred percent sure of my innocence. I request my acquittal.”

STATEMENTS AT THE HEARING WILL BE EXAMINED

Announcing its interim decision, the court ruled to wait for the transcription of the statements of the complainant child M.S., who connected to the hearing via SEGBİS, for examination, and adjourned the hearing.

FROM THE INDICTMENT

The indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office stated that the investigation began on December 5, 2023, after the school administration where the victim M.S. was enrolled reported the records they had kept to the police.

The prepared indictment noted that there was no serious reason for the victim M.S. to slander the suspect Mehmet Ender Saraç on a matter concerning his honor and reputation, that there was no prior hostility between them, that the victim had told the incident to his teachers at school, that the mother was involved in the incident later, and that there was no possibility that the child's statements to his teachers were under the influence of guidance or consisted of fiction; for this reason, it was concluded that the victim's first statement was sincere and reflected the truth.

The prepared indictment requested that the suspect Mehmet Ender Saraç be sentenced to imprisonment from 12 years to 22 years and 6 months for the crime of 'child sexual abuse'.

News Source: İHA