Testimonies regarding violence at the police station: The District Governor insulted and threatened us, his son slapped us

On Saturday, July 26, a verbal altercation occurred in Mezitli, Mersin, between 20-year-old K. G., the son of District Governor Turgay Gülenç, and five children aged 12-13. The following day, on July 27, the five children involved in the altercation were taken by their families to the Mezitli District Police Department's Juvenile Bureau.

According to a report by Cengiz Karagöz from Halk TV, the children learned there that the person they had argued with was the son of the District Governor. It is alleged that the Mezitli District Governor and his son physically assaulted the children at the police station in front of the police officers.

One of the children who was subjected to violence was referred to the hospital due to the injuries sustained. An initial examination revealed fractures in two places on their ribs. The child, who was admitted to intensive care, was moved to a regular room following treatment. The child, who reportedly suffered a rib tear, continues to receive treatment at the hospital. It was also stated that the assaulted children obtained medical reports documenting the violence they were subjected to.

The testimonies of the children who were subjected to violence at the police station have been obtained.

Here is what happened at the police station:

“Together with my mother, we went to the Mezitli District Police Department located on Mezitli Kuyuluk Street at around 09:30. They told us we were called regarding yesterday's incident. When we arrived at the police station, three of my friends and their families were also there. They told us all to explain yesterday's incident at the same time.

While we were explaining the incident, there was no lawyer present with us. After we explained the incident, they took all of us and our families into a room and made us wait for hours.

Later, they put me and three of my friends into a car and did not tell us where we were going. While we were in the car, the police officer sitting in the front passenger seat received a phone call; after the call ended, he told us, 'A call came from an important person, we are turning back.' We returned to the first police station we had gone to. Police officers, whose names I know as M. and S., came to the station. They told us, 'Stand properly here, a very special person is coming now.'

"THE MEZITLI DISTRICT GOVERNOR ALSO INSULTED AND THREATENED US, HIS SON SLAPPED US"

The District Governor, the District Governor's son K. G., and two police officers entered. Subsequently, a few more police officers whose names I do not know entered. K. G. said, 'What happened to us, you...' We were very scared and were standing at attention. The Mezitli District Governor also insulted and threatened us. He said, 'I will kill you.' K. G. slapped all of us in the face one by one. I did not react at all, nor did I insult him.

"HE ASSAULTED MY FRIEND, THEY KICKED HIS CHEST WITH THEIR KNEES"

Two of my friends tried to protect themselves while he was trying to slap them. K. G. then assaulted one of my friends even more severely. The Mezitli District Governor also assaulted my friend; they kicked his chest with their knees. However, both of them assaulted us so much that I don't remember who hit whom where.

"THE POLICE OFFICERS SAID, 'ACT AS IF THIS DID NOT HAPPEN'"

A police officer named S. tried to intervene in the incident. Later, the Mezitli District Governor and his son left the room, and as they were leaving, they continued to insult and threaten us, but I do not remember what they said. After they left, police officers M. and S. stayed in the room with us and told us, 'Go wash your faces and hands.' Later, the police officers named Mustafa and Serdar put the four of us in a car and told us, 'Act as if this did not happen,' and took us to the hospital to get a medical report for the assault.

We entered the doctor's office at the hospital, but the doctor, whose name I do not know, wrote the report based on the police officers' statements without asking me if I had any injuries. Police officer S. then told me, 'Okay, go outside.' Later, they took us to a police station in the city center; after being held there for about two hours, they released me and two of my friends to our families, but one of our friends remained there."

THE BAR ASSOCIATION FILED A CRIMINAL COMPLAINT

The Mersin Bar Association's Children's Rights Center intervened in the incident. The lawyers filed a criminal complaint against the Mezitli District Governor Turgay Gülenç, his son K. G., and the police officers at the station.

News Source: 12punto