Man Who Attacked Woman in Shorts Got Prison Sentence, Was Released

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E.K. standing trial in detention on remand for assaulting Asena Melisa Sağlam in a minibus for wearing shorts was released by the court yesterday (September 12).

E.K. was detained upon the woman's complaint and then was released. However, as it came out during the judicial proceedings that he was sentenced to 3 years and 9 months in prison on charge of "opposing to tax law", E.K. was sent to prison for the execution of this crime.

However, since Penal Execution System has been changed through a statutory decree, E.K. was released on probation for his tax crime.
Upon growing reaction from the public and objection by the prosecution, he was arrested on June 22.

E.K. was being charged with "preventing exercising the freedom of belief, thought and opinion", "Insult", "Willful injury", and "Inciting people to animosity and hostility" as well as "sexual assault by molesting".

In yesterday's final hearing, Judge Muharrem Ballı sentenced E.K. to 2 years in prison on the charge of "sexual assault by molesting", 2 years on charge of "interference with the choices concerning way of living in connection with one's beliefs, thoughts and opinions by using force" and dismissed the charges of "Inciting people to animosity and hostility".

E.K got also good conduct abatement. The court reduced his prison sentence from 4 years to 3 years and 4 months and released E.K. 

Expert report confirms sexual harassment

Attorney Nuriye Alsancak representing Asena Melisa Sağlam stated that the expert report recently included to the case file confirmed that the suspect caressed Alsancak's hair. 

Earlier, another aggressor, Abdullah Çakır, who kicked Ayşegül Terzi on a bus for wearing shorts on the first day of Eid was sentenced to 3 years and 9 months in prison. Çakıroğlu had said in his defence that "Turkey is an Islamic country.

(NV/DG)