"Everywhere is a crime scene"
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Arrested pending trial for having "sexually assaulted" six women who were working as law apprentices with him, lawyer Muhittin K. had his first hearing at the Bakırköy 21st Heavy Penal Court in İstanbul.
All six complainant law apprentices and their attorneys as well as lawyers from the İstanbul Bar Association's Women's Rights Center and arrested defendant Muhittin K. attended the hearing.
Charged with "successive aggravated sexual assault", "deprivation of liberty", "threat" and "unlawful acquirement of personal data", lawyer Muhittin K. faces up to 141 years in prison on the offenses charged.
In the first hearing of the case, lawyers from the İstanbul Bar Association's Women's Rights Center, We Will Stop Femincides Platform, Progressive Lawyers Association (ÇHD) and Libertarian Lawyers Association (ÖHD) expressed their requests for involvement in the trial.
The court board has rejected these requests on the grounds that the necessary conditions for the involvement did not arise and the lawyers who made the requests were not affected by the offense.
The attorneys of six law apprentices requested that a broadcast and publication ban be imposed on the file "so that the privacy of the women could be protected." The court has accepted this request.
The hearing continued without the press. The court has ruled that the next hearing shall be held on October 22.
What happened?Law apprentice Öykü A. shared the harassment of M.K. on social media. Following her social media posts, İstanbul Bar Association has launched a disciplinary investigation against M.K. It has been understood that he inflicted violence on his ex-wife as well and an investigation was launched against the man upon the complaint of his ex-wife. In her message, Öykü A. said, "Hello everyone, I am Öykü, I will tell you how M.K., one of the lawyers of İstanbul Bar Association, sexually assaulted me and his several other workers like me and how he tried to dissuade us from our complaints with threats." There was also a lawsuit against the lawyer on the ground that he resisted the private security guards in İstanbul Courthouse in Çağlayan. Following his statements in this trial heard by the İstanbul 12th Heavy Penal Court, it has been ruled that the mental health of M.K. shall be examined. The court board has referred him to the Bakırköy Psychiatric Hospital on the ground that his statements and behavior were reminiscent of schizophrenia. It has been also alleged that he was treated for his mental health for around three months. İstanbul Bar Association has launched a disciplinary investigation. Progressive Lawyers Association (ÇHD) has also announced that they will not work with M.K. |
(EMK/SD)
