Verdict reached for defendants who attempted to set forests on fire in Istanbul under PKK instructions!

In the case against defendants who attempted to start fires at 4 different locations in Istanbul on various dates under the instructions of the terrorist organization PKK/KCK, life sentences and various prison terms were handed down.

Some detained and non-detained defendants connected to the hearing at the Istanbul 13th High Criminal Court via the Audio and Video Information System (SEGBİS). The defendants' lawyers were present in the courtroom.

The defendants did not accept the charges in their defense statements.

The court panel, which reached a verdict in the case, sentenced defendants Mehmet Emin Yıldırım, Serhat Doğan, Yusuf Edis, and Sinan Aslan to aggravated life imprisonment and 10 years in prison each for the crimes of "disrupting the unity and integrity of the state" and "unauthorized possession or transfer of dangerous substances."

The panel, which also sentenced Yıldırım, Doğan, and Edis to life imprisonment for the crime of "burning state forests within the framework of organizational activities," decided to acquit Aslan of this charge on the grounds that definitive and sufficient evidence could not be obtained.

The panel decided to continue the detention of Doğan, Edis, and Aslan, and issued an arrest warrant for Yıldırım.

The court panel sentenced Doğukan B., who is under 18, to 29 years and 4 months in prison for the crimes of "disrupting the unity and integrity of the state" and "unauthorized possession or transfer of dangerous substances." It was ruled that there was no need to issue a verdict for Doğukan B., whose detention continues, regarding the charges of "membership in a terrorist organization" and "damaging property," and he was acquitted of the charge of "burning state forests within the framework of organizational activities" on the grounds that sufficient evidence could not be obtained.

Defendant Mehmet İhsan Güney was sentenced to 5 years in prison for the crime of "violating the law on the prevention of the financing of terrorism," while he was acquitted of the other charges brought against him on the grounds that definitive and sufficient evidence could not be obtained.

Acquittal decisions were issued for the children dragged into crime, Bilal S. and Çetin K., as well as defendants Alişan Bulut, Mehmet Oktay Yılmaz, Özgür Günez, Fetullah Arslan, Muhammet Yanıt, and Veysel Elboğa, on the grounds that definitive and sufficient evidence could not be obtained that they committed the crimes they were charged with.

FROM THE INDICTMENT

In the indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was noted that teams went to the scene after a report was made to the police regarding a suspicious object explosion at a shopping mall in Bayrampaşa, and the investigation began with the capture of defendant Sinan Aslan and the minor Doğukan B. at the scene, and the detention of other identified defendants.

The indictment stated that it was determined that the terrorist organization PKK/KCK attempted to start fires at a shopping mall in Bayrampaşa on August 1, 2023, in the grassy area around the Esenler Bus Terminal and a clothing store on June 24, 2023, and in the Şile and Sultangazi City Forests on August 1, 2023, and that they intended to cause damage to Turkey through these means.

The indictment explained that defendant Yusuf Sürer, codenamed "Agit-Lejvan," who lives in France, sent money to defendant Mehmet İhsan Güney to carry out actions on behalf of the terrorist organization PKK/KCK, and that defendants Fethullah Arslan and Güney acted together with the instructions they received, and that the money in question was given to defendant Serhat Doğan through defendants Özgür Günez and Veysel Elboğa.

The indictment stated that Doğan instructed minor children and other defendants to buy materials such as sparklers, matches, and small yogurt containers to be used in bomb-making, and that after these were obtained, explosive and flammable material devices were created under the instruction of defendant Yusuf Edis, and it was determined that the defendants prepared bomb devices in the house where Serhat Doğan lived, which was rented by the organization in Şirinevler.

For defendants Serhat Doğan, Sinan Aslan, Yusuf Edis, Yusuf Sürer, Alişan Bulut, Fethullah Arslan, Mehmet Emin Yıldırım, Mehmet İhsan Güney, Mehmet Oktay Yılmaz, Muhammet Yanıt, Özgür Günez, and Veysel Elboğa, it was requested that they be sentenced to 2 counts of aggravated life imprisonment each and 16 years and 6 months to 47 years in prison each for the crimes of "disrupting the unity and integrity of the state," "burning forests for terrorist purposes," "unauthorized possession or transfer of dangerous substances," "membership in an armed terrorist organization," and "damaging property."

For the minors Doğukan B., Çetin K., and Bilal S., prison sentences ranging from 44.5 to 61.5 years each were requested for the same crimes.

News Source: AA