Tunç Soyer's lawyer Murat Aydın: We want to maintain our faith

The first session of the first hearing has concluded in the case involving 65 defendants, 11 of whom are in custody, including former İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tunç Soyer, CHP İzmir Provincial Chair Şenol Aslanoğlu, and former İZBETON A.Ş. General Manager Heval Savaş Kaya. The case, known publicly as the 'cooperative trial,' was initiated following allegations of corruption through subcontractor companies at İZBETON A.Ş., a subsidiary of the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality.

The first session of the hearing, during which the statements of the 11 detained defendants were taken, was ended early due to an update in the UYAP system. During this session, the defenses of the non-detained defendants and their lawyers were not heard.

Following the session, Tunç Soyer's lawyer, Murat Aydın, made a statement regarding the hearing.

Former İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tunç Soyer and CHP Provincial Chair Aslanoğlu appeared before the judge over 'corruption' allegations: "Public loss is being determined based on probabilities"

"We believe the detention of our friends will come to an end"

Noting that the hearing will continue next week and that they expect a trial without detention, Aydın said the following:

“Today, the first session of the first hearing was held for the case opened following the operation against the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality. The court took the statements of the 11 detained defendants, and we adjourned the hearing to continue on Monday. Starting Monday, the statements of the remaining defendants will be taken. After hearing all 65 statements, the court will listen to the requests of the defense attorneys and decide whether the detention will continue. We believe that justice will be served at the end of this trial and that our friends will regain their freedom. Despite all the conditions the country is in, we want to maintain our faith that judicial processes will proceed correctly. If there is an allegation, there will naturally be a trial, but what is important is that the trial is conducted fairly, honestly, and without detention. We believe the court will make a decision on this matter and that the detention of our friends will come to an end. The process is ongoing. Today, a break was taken only because of the weekend, and it will continue on Monday.”

Stating that they objected to the trial being held in a prison, Aydın said their objections would continue, adding: “This is a prison campus, and holding a hearing in a prison makes the judiciary appear extraordinary. However, we hope and expect that judicial processes will continue in their ordinary flow. We have expressed our demands for this to be corrected. We will have similar requests on Monday.”

News Source: 12punto