Erdoğan's lawyer demands punishment for 16-year-old: Detained during convoy passage!

President and AKP Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has intervened in the trial of a 16-year-old high school student who is being prosecuted for allegedly insulting him. Erdoğan's lawyer has requested that the young defendant be punished.

DETAINED DURING CONVOY PASSAGE

The 16-year-old, who was detained in Istanbul's Sarıyer district on May 12 for allegedly swearing during the passage of President Erdoğan's convoy, was released after being held in custody for one day. The youth explained what happened in his statement as follows:

"I was waiting at the pedestrian crossing that day. I got scared and reacted because of a vehicle coming at high speed. At that moment, I was not aware that a state official, including the President, would be passing by. It is out of the question for me to insult the President of the Republic of Turkey or any state official. I reacted reflexively due to the impact of an accident I had experienced in the past. I realized later that the convoy belonged to the President. It was a misunderstanding without any intent on my part."

WEEKLY SIGN-IN AND TRAVEL BAN

As part of the 16-year-old's judicial process, the Istanbul 1st Criminal Court of Peace ruled for judicial control measures, including a weekly sign-in requirement and a ban on traveling abroad. While the child's lawyer, Kardelen Ateşci, requested the removal of the judicial control decision, the court rejected this request. However, the Istanbul 1st Juvenile Court accepted the removal of the judicial control on September 30, 2024.

"THE WINDOW WAS OPEN IN FRONT OF EVERYONE"

Police officer Emine G., who serves at the Presidential Protection Branch Directorate, was heard as a witness during the hearing. Describing the moment of the incident, Emine G. said:

"I was in one of the protection vehicles during our President's transit from Huber Mansion to the program in Dolmabahçe. The windows were open, and we were greeting the public. At that moment, I heard the youths swearing. We got out of the vehicle, showed our IDs, and asked why they were behaving that way. Because they were minors, we told them to go to the police station and informed their families. I initiated the official proceedings because I heard them swearing."

ERDOĞAN'S LAWYER DEMANDS PUNISHMENT

Before the first hearing held on November 12, President Erdoğan's lawyer, Ahmet Özel, who intervened in the case, stated that the young defendant should be punished.

TRIAL CONTINUES

The court adjourned the case until December 10. It was also decided to request camera footage of the convoy's passage from the Sarıyer District Police Department and to summon another protection officer involved in the incident to the hearing.

News Source: 12punto