Actor Efecan Şenolsun acquitted of sexually harassing colleague

Click to read the article in Turkish

Actor Efecan Şenolsun has been acquitted of sexually harassing and insulting a co-star, Elit İşcan, during the filming of a TV series.

Although the prosecutor requested a prison sentence of up to 17 years and 4 months for the defendant, the İstanbul 10th Penal Court of First Instance acquitted him due to "lack of evidence."

The plaintiff presented witness statements to the court as evidence at the previous hearing.

In today's (February 12) hearing, Şensolsun rejected the allegations while İşcan said, "I don't accept the adverse points in the [prosecutor's] opinion. I request a prison sentence to be given in line with the opinion, especially for 'sexual assault' offense."

The court concluded that there was no evidence that is "certain, convincing and free of doubt."

Meriç Eyüboğlu, the attorney of İşcan, told reporters after the hearing that "As people who face male justice every day, maybe we shouldn't be surprised but we are still a bit shaken, unhappy."

"But we know that Elit is right regardless of the ruling ... Male justice is served. After such a long trial, a verdict of acquittal was given without stating a reason," she added.

According to the indictment, Şenolsun attempted to hug İşcan around the waist and kissed during the filming of the series on June 7, 2018. After İşcan tried to push him back, he allegedly insulted and threatened her.

The prosecutor requested a prison sentence of from 7 years and 9 months to 17 years and 4 months for "sexual assault" and "public insult."

İşcan made the incident public and filed a criminal complaint against Şenolsun on October 25, 2018.

In response, Şenolsun said "a verbal incident" had taken place between them and he had been subjected to mobbing for five months.

The Actors' Union had announced support for İcan at the time. (EMK/VK)