Mukhtar’s Certificate of Election Cancelled As His Prison Sentence for Child Abuse Upheld

* Photograph: Women Assemblies / Twitter (We don't keep silent to child abuse)

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After the prison sentence given to a neighborhood head (mukhtar) in Pamukkale, Denizli for sexual abuse of a child was upheld by the court of appeal, his certificate of election has been cancelled. The certificate has been granted to the candidate who came second in the elections.

As reported by Evrensel newspaper, a lawsuit was filed against the current neighborhood head Yaşar Topbaş on charge of "sexual abuse of a child through molestation."

In his final hearing at the Denizli 4th Heavy Penal Court on May 18, 2018, Topbaş was sentenced to 4 years and 2 months in prison on the offence charged. Tried without being arrested, Topbaş's verdict of conviction was sent to the Antalya Regional Court of Justice (court of appeal).

Running in March 31 Local Elections again, Topbaş has been re-elected as the neighborhood head and received his certificate of election from the Pamukkale District Election Council.

Verdict delivered to him after elections

In the meanwhile, the prison sentence given to Topbaş was upheld by the Antalya Regional Court of Justice on March 21. The verdict of the court of appeal has been delivered to Topbaş after the local elections.

Accordingly, with his prison sentence becoming definite, Pamukkale District Election Council has cancelled the certificate of election of Topbaş.

The certificate has been granted to Kadir Kıvrak, who came second in the mukhtar elections on March 31.

It has been reported that Topbaş could not be found in his residential address and security forces are currently looking for him. (AÖ/SD)