Introduction
The İstanbul 1. Ağır Ceza Mahkemesi acquitted all defendants charged with establishing a criminal organization, membership in a criminal organization and aiding a criminal organization in the Aziz İhsan Aktaş Case, which has 200 defendants, 5 of whom are in custody, including 7 Belediye mayors. The court ruled that it had not been established that the defendants committed these offenses.
Developments
Aziz İhsan Aktaş, accused of being a “criminal organization leader,” and Baki Nugay, who gave a statement under effective remorse provisions, were acquitted of establishing a criminal organization. Aktaş and Beşiktaş Belediye Mayor Rıza Akpolat were also acquitted of forgery of a private document and bid rigging charges.
Details
Avcılar Belediye Mayor Utku Caner Çaykara was acquitted of all charges. Esenyurt Belediye Mayor Ahmet Özer was acquitted of one charge but sentenced to 8 months and 10 days in prison on the other. The court is continuing to announce its decisions regarding the other defendants and charges.