Ekrem İmamoğlu is facing the judge for insults and threats! Here is the requested sentence

Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was arrested and suspended from his post as part of the corruption investigation into the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM), appeared before the judge today on charges of "insult"...

İmamoğlu is being tried for "targeting people fighting against terrorism," "insult," and "threat" due to statements he made about Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akın Gürlek and his family during a panel discussion. He is being asked to be sentenced to a prison sentence of 2 years and 8 months to 7 years and 4 months.

The hearing, which will be held by the Istanbul 14th High Criminal Court in the courtroom opposite the Marmara Prison in Silivri, will begin at 10:00.

THE OPINION WAS ANNOUNCED At the hearing held on June 16, the presiding judge stated that the opinion on the merits prepared by the Public Prosecutor's Office had been submitted to the file.

The opinion requested that İmamoğlu be sentenced to a prison sentence of 2 years and 8 months to 7 years and 4 months for "publicly insulting a public official because of his duty," "threats," and "targeting people who took part in the fight against terrorism."

The opinion also requested the implementation of the article 53, paragraph 1 of the Turkish Penal Code, which states, "As a legal consequence of being sentenced to imprisonment for a crime committed intentionally, a person shall be deprived of undertaking a permanent, temporary or temporary public service, membership in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, or employment in any civil service or service subject to appointment or election, granted by the state, province, municipality, village, or institutions and organizations under their control and supervision."

FROM THE INDICTMENT In the indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office Terror Crimes Investigation Bureau, Chief Public Prosecutor Akın Gürlek was included as the "victim" .

The indictment states that an ex officio investigation was launched after it was determined that the statements İmamoğlu made against Chief Prosecutor Gürlek during a speech he attended at a panel discussion contained criminal content.

The indictment, which states that Gürlek, who currently serves as Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor, has previously served as president, criminal judge of peace, and Deputy Minister of Justice in high criminal courts responsible for handling terrorism crimes, notes that Gürlek was known to have been targeted by various terrorist organizations, particularly the DHKP/C, during his time in office.

The indictment, which highlights that Gürlek was threatened by publishing his clear identity information and photograph in various press and media outlets and social media accounts of terrorist organizations, states that İmamoğlu targeted Gürlek with the speech in question and committed the crime of "targeting people involved in the fight against terrorism."

The indictment states that the statements İmamoğlu made publicly were intended to humiliate Akın Gürlek, who was holding a public position, and constituted derogatory expressions; that the statement in question exceeded the limits of expressing thought; that the phrase and speech in question were also intended to harm the dignity of the individual as a whole and did not constitute an expression of opinion; and that it is not possible for this action to receive legal protection within the context of freedom of expression.

The indictment, which states that İmamoğlu's speech targeted Chief Prosecutor Gürlek and his family, used expressions suggesting that they would be harmed or harmed, includes the assessment that "The act was objectively suitable, sufficient and appropriate to achieve a result in terms of creating fear in the victim, and therefore, the suspect committed the crime of threat."

The indictment refers to the investigation into the crime of "attempting to influence a judicial officer" by publicly targeting one of the court experts, falsely presenting him as the sole expert, and revealing his name for this purpose, in a press conference held on January 27, with the aim of reaching a decision in favor of the suspects in the investigation.

When the two incidents are evaluated together, it is understood that İmamoğlu aimed to put pressure on judicial bodies and their members by using the position and influence that comes with his position in a public manner in front of the press and to influence them in favor of his party. The indictment seeks a prison sentence of 2 years, 8 months to 7 years, 4 months for İmamoğlu on charges of "publicly insulting a public official because of their duty," "threats," and "targeting people who took part in the fight against terrorism."

The application of Article 53, Paragraph 1, of the Turkish Penal Code, which states that "As a legal consequence of being sentenced to imprisonment for a crime committed intentionally, a person is deprived of assuming a permanent, temporary or temporary public office; in this context, membership in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey; or employment in any civil service or service granted by the state, province, municipality, village, or institutions and organizations under their control and supervision, subject to appointment or election," is also requested regarding İmamoğlu.