Man sentenced to pay record-high damages for throwing chemical in child’s face

"No to violence againt child"

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Sentenced to 9 years, 36 months in prison for throwing a chemical substance in the face of the child of his sister-in-law in a restaurant in Ataşehir, İstanbul, Cihan Araçman has been sentenced to pay 5 million 330 thousand lira (~700 thousand USD) in pecuniary and non-pecuniary damages.

As reported by Anadolu Agency (AA), the hearing held at the İstanbul Anatolian 4th Civil Court of First Instance was attended by Işıl Güven, the mother of the child. The attorneys were also present in the courtroom.

Rahşan Sertkaya Danış, the attorney of the aggrieved party, reiterated the previous statements and demanded that the case be accepted by the court. Ahmet Kaan Yavuz, the attorney of the defendant, said that the amount of damages requested by the aggrieved party was "extremely high" and demanded that the amount paid by the insurance be deducted.

Damages to be paid to mother

Handing down its ruling, the court has ruled that defendant Cihan Araçman shall pay 4 million 770 lira in pecuniary damages for the child named Y.K. As he is younger than 18, it will be paid to his mother by proxy.

The court has also partly accepted the request of mother Işıl Güven for 100 thousand lira in non-pecuniary damages. Araçman will now also pay Güven 60 thousand lira in non-pecuniary damages.

According to the ruling of the court, child Y.K. will also be paid 500 thousand lira in non-pecuniary damages.

The court has ruled that 5 million 330 thousand lira of pecuniary and non-pecuniary damages in total shall be received from the defendant including the accrued interest and the injunction on his assets shall remain in effect.

What happened?

Cihan Araçman was put on trial for throwing a chemical substance in the face of the son (3) of his sister-in-law in a restaurant in Ataşehir, İstanbul. He was sentenced to 9 years, 36 months for "deliberate injury."

Filing a suit for pecuniary and non-pecuniary damages for both her son and herself in 2016, mother Işıl Güven demanded 600 thousand lira in total.

According to the expert report presented to court, Y.K. could not open his eyelids and mouth due to the burns on his face and he would need the help of another person for the rest of his life. Accordingly, the report indicated that 3 million 246 thousand 179 lira should be paid in total for the child.

Receiving and examining this report, the court noted that a separate calculation should be made for his education and treatment expenses and requested another expert report. (EMK/SD)