3 Lawsuits Against 41 Polling Clerks Due to Alleged Irregularities in Local Elections

* Photograph: AA

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Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has partially completed the investigation launched against the alleged irregularities committed at ballot boxes in local elections on March 31, 2019.

Accordingly, three separate lawsuits have been filed against 41 polling clerks and presiding officers who were on duty at ballot boxes in the districts of Kadıköy and Ataşehir in İstanbul. Charged with "neglect of duty", 41 defendants have been each facing three months to 1 year in prison.

The indictments issued by the prosecutor's office have been accepted by the İstanbul Anatolian 35th Penal Court of First Instance, 40th Penal Court of First Instance and 54th Penal Court of First Instance.

There is also an investigation into Kartal elections

An investigation was launched against polling clerks on duty at ballot boxes in Kadıköy after a member of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) District Administrative Board filed a complaint, alleging that irregularities were committed while counting the votes.

In Kartal, the presiding officer of a ballot box also filed a criminal complaint to the İstanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against the persons who allegedly committed irregularities while entering the vote-combining minutes to the system of the Supreme Election Council (YSK).

In response to this complaint, the Prosecutor's Office requested identity information of the officers who entered data into the system and vote minutes from the District Election Councils. An investigation was launched on April 9. (TP/SD)