Ballot papers were burned in Hilvan: Prison requested for 48 people who came from in front of the AKP election office

Ersin EROĞLU-12punto.com.tr /EXCLUSIVE

The investigation launched by the Hilvan Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the burning of ballot papers and the assault on poll workers in the Hilvan district of Şanlıurfa during the March 31 local elections has been completed. 

In the indictment prepared by the Hilvan Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, prison sentences were requested for 48 people identified as having come from in front of the AKP election office, on charges of "intentional injury, altering election results, changing the location of ballot boxes in violation of procedure, and stealing ballot envelopes."

The indictment states that on election night, during the vote count at ballot boxes numbered 1118, 1119, 1120, 1121, and 1122 located at the Hilvan Youth Center, it was determined through camera footage that a group of approximately 50 people arrived from in front of the AKP district election office, entered the youth center, and obstructed the police officers on duty. 

It was also stated that the defendants assaulted poll workers while burning the ballot papers.

The lawyer who was injured among the suspects, as well as the police officers on duty, filed complaints.

WHAT HAD HAPPENED?

On election night, footage was published on social media showing that ballot boxes had been burned in some neighborhoods in Hilvan and that poll workers had been attacked. Following the elections won by the DEM Party, the AKP objected to 15 ballot boxes. Among the ballot boxes the AKP objected to were boxes 1119 and 1120, where the ballots were set on fire by a group of 50 people, including Mustafa Bayık, the nephew of AKP candidate Ali Aslan Bayık, and municipal employees.

Citing the incident, for which camera footage exists, the District Election Board decided to annul the elections, which the DEM Party had won by a margin of 521 votes, and to hold them again on June 2. The DEM Party's appeal to the Supreme Election Council (YSK) was rejected. The DEM Party won the re-run elections on June 2 once again.

News Source: Ersin Eroğlu