Investigation Against Main Opposition CHP’s Özgür Özel, Engin Özkoç

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Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation against main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Group Deputy Chairs Özgür Özel and Engin Özkoç over their statements regarding the estate rented by Presidential Communications Director Fahrettin Altun in Kuzguncuk, İstanbul from the Directorate General of Foundations.

In a statement released by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it has been indicated that Sezgin Tunç, the attorney of Altun, filed a criminal complaint against Özel and Özkoç on May 6, 2020.

The two Group Deputy Chairs of the main opposition party are now investigated on charges of "insult" and "slander."

'It was distorted for revanchist purposes'

In his petition of criminal complaint, attorney Tunç argued that a process of rent undertaken in accordance with the law was distorted by Özel and Özkoç for political and revanchist purposes and his client was subjected to unreal accusations damaging his honor, dignity and respectability.

Indicating that personal rights of Fahrettin Altun were violated by these statements, the petition further claimed that "there had emerged the necessity to penalize the suspects for insulting and slandering a public official due to his duty and for other offences to be ex officio detected."

Statement by the prosecutor's office

In its written statement for the press regarding the issue, the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has announced that "an investigation of insult and slander has been launched against 27th term MPs Özgür Özel and Engin Özkoç over their statements and messages shared on their social media accounts and some media outlets following the publication of the news article entitled 'There is illegal [construction] in Bosphorus."

What happened?

Presidential Communications Director Fahrettin Altun rented the estate behind his house in the Zone with View to Bosphorus from the Directorate General of Foundations for a period of 10 years.

As reported by Hazal Ocak from daily Cumhuriyet, Altun had a wall built on the estate. While the wall could be seen from many angles, he also had the landscape designed with a road, fireplace and pergola.

The construction in the area was demolished by the teams of İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality upon the complaint of his neighbors on April 13.

As reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation into the news where Altun's residential address and photo were used on the ground that he was "shown as a target to terrorist organizations." Four journalists were also summoned to depose as part of this investigation.

The İstanbul Anatolian 8th Penal Judgeship of Peace has also imposed an access block on the related news and social media posts.

Shortly afterwards, another investigation has been launched against three people, including CHP Üsküdar District Chair Suat Özçağdaş, in relation with the photographing of Altun's house in Kuzguncuk, İstanbul.

Summoned to depose by phone, Özçağdaş and the two others deposed to the prosecutor's office and they were released pending trial.

The attorneys of Altun have also filed a complaint against CHP İstanbul Chair Canan Kaftancıoğlu over her social media posts about Özçağdaş.

Examining the petition, the Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation against Kaftancıoğlu, accusing her of "praising the crime and criminal" and "instigating to violate privacy."

Kaftancıoğlu was also summoned to depose April 29. (HA/SD)