*Source and photo: Anadolu Agency (AA)
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Put on trial for having allegedly abused 27 students in Antalya province, the defendant has been sentenced to 621 years in prison.
The final hearing of primary school teacher Mahmut Aydın K. was held at the Antalya 6th Heavy Penal Court today (November 12).
The arrested defendant attended the hearing via the Audio and Visual Information System (SEGBİS) due to the pandemic. The families of children and the attorneys of the parties were present in the courtroom.
In his defense, the defendant rejected the offenses charged against him and requested his release and acquittal.
The court board has ruled that defendant K. shall be sentenced to 621 years in prison on charges of "threat", "undue influence arising from service relation" and "repeated simple and aggravated sexual abuse" of 26 children. He has been acquitted of "sexual abuse" of one child.
While Mahmut Aydın K. has been suspended from profession as a teacher, the court has not reduced his sentence on the grounds that he did not show any remorse during the judicial process.
Addressing the reporters after the hearing, lawyer Serap Ertuğrul from the Antalya Bar's Children Rights Center has welcomed the verdict, expressing her hope that it will also be upheld by the upper court.
Saadet Özkan, the Chair of Teacher Saadet Struggle Against Child Abuse Association (UCİM), has emphasized that after one of 27 children spoke out, the defendant has been sentenced to over 600 years in prison.
'My sweet child, we are so glad that you spoke'
Özkan has said that "after a little child spoke out, the country has got rid of an abuser". She has addressed the child in following words: "My sweet child, we are so glad that you spoke out and wiped away that abuser."
Indicating that the 6th Heavy Penal Court "has given one of the most important verdicts of the Republic of Turkey," Özkan has underlined that "if justice is properly implemented, children can be saved."
UCİM Vice Chair Yücel Ceylan has also welcomed the prison sentence, adding that "there is no problem with the laws, the problem is with the ones who implement them." (AÖ/SD)
