Requested sentences for the armed attack at Santa Maria Church have been determined

The investigation into the attack carried out on January 28 at the Santa Maria Church in Sarıyer, involving 42 suspects, 31 of whom are in custody, has been completed.

As a result of the investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office Terror and Organized Crime Investigation Bureau, an indictment was prepared seeking prison sentences ranging from 7 years and 6 months to 349 years and 6 months for 42 suspects, including the attackers.

In the indictment, where Tuncer Cihan, who lost his life in the attack, is listed as the "victim," 11 people, including Santa Maria Church priest Anton Bulai, are listed as "complainants."

"BEING A MEMBER OF AN ARMED TERRORIST ORGANIZATION"

The indictment requests that the detained suspects who carried out the attack, David Tanduev and Amirjon Kholiqov, as well as Edelkhan Inazhaev and his wife Zharaidat Esmurzieva, who were determined to be connected to these suspects, be sentenced to two aggravated life sentences each, plus 218 years and 7 months to 349 years and 6 months in prison for the crimes of "attempting to abolish the order stipulated by the Constitution of the Republic of Turkey by using force and violence," "being a member of an armed terrorist organization" within the scope of ISIS, "premeditated murder," "attempted premeditated murder" against 11 people, and "possession of firearms and ammunition."

The indictment also foresees that 20 suspects be sentenced to two aggravated life sentences each, plus 217 years and 1 month to 345 years in prison for similar crimes, while suspect Inazhaev also faces a request for 3 to 7 years and 6 months in prison for the crime of "forgery of official documents."

For 18 of the suspects, prison sentences of 7 years and 6 months to 15 years were requested solely for the crime of "being a member of an armed terrorist organization" within the scope of ISIS.

The indictment has been sent to the Istanbul Heavy Penal Court for evaluation.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Tuncer Cihan lost his life in the armed attack that took place at the Santa Maria Church on January 28.

As part of the work initiated following the incident, teams conducted simultaneous operations at 30 addresses targeting ISIS members and detained 51 suspects. 23 of the suspects, who were determined to have no connection to the incident, were handed over to a repatriation center for deportation after their procedures. 3 of the 9 suspects caught within the scope of the investigation were also handed over to a repatriation center for deportation after their procedures.

Of the 34 suspects referred to the courthouse after their procedures at the police station, 25, including ISIS suspect Amirjon Kholiqov, who caused Cihan's death by opening fire in the church, and David Tanduev, who was with him, were arrested for "membership in an organization" and "qualified intentional murder." The other 9 suspects were released under judicial control conditions.

News Source: 12punto