04.05.2025 16:31
Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç commented on the conditional release of the individual who attacked CHP leader Özgür Özel in 2020, stating, "The attacker was released from prison under the old regulations. It is clear that if the same crime had been committed under today's regulations, he would have to serve at least 36 years in a high-security penal institution."
TBMM Deputy Speaker and DEM Party Istanbul Deputy Sırrı Süreyya Önder, who passed away yesterday at the hospital where he was being treated for heart diseases, was honored at a ceremony held at AKM, which was also attended by CHP Chairman Özgür Özel. After the ceremony, where messages of peace were conveyed, Özel was attacked by an individual with a fist as he exited AKM. The assailant was quickly apprehended and taken into custody by police teams, and an investigation has been launched regarding the incident.
THE ASSAILANT TURNED OUT TO BE A CHILD KILLER
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office reported that S.T., the 66-year-old who physically attacked CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, has a criminal record for killing his children B.T. and M.T. in Hatay in 2004 and injuring two other children. In a statement from the Ministry of Interior, it was revealed that the assailant, who also has a record for theft and threats and received a life sentence, was released on conditional parole in 2020. The release of the child killer has caused public outrage.
"RELEASED ACCORDING TO OLD REGULATIONS"
Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç stated regarding the release of S.T., who carried out the attack on CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, that "An immediate judicial investigation has been initiated by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the physical attack on CHP Chairman Mr. Özgür Özel, and the suspect who carried out the attack has been taken into custody. The investigation is being conducted meticulously and comprehensively."
It has been understood that the individual in question was sentenced to two life sentences and fixed-term imprisonment by the İskenderun 1st Heavy Penal Court in 2004 for the intentional murder of two children and the intentional injury of two other children.
According to the provisions of the Turkish Penal Code No. 765 and the Law on the Execution of Sentences No. 647, which were in effect at the time the crime was committed, the relevant individual was released on conditional parole in 2020 after serving 16 years in a penal institution.
With the radical reforms made during the AK Party governments in 2005, the Turkish Penal Code and the Law on the Execution of Sentences were completely changed; both the penalties for crimes were increased, and the execution periods were extended. However, since the assailant committed the crime before these changes, he was released from prison according to the old regulations.
"IF HE HAD COMMITTED THE SAME CRIME TODAY, HE WOULD HAVE STAYED IN PRISON FOR 36 YEARS"
According to today's regulations, if he had committed the same crime, it is clear that he would have been sentenced to multiple aggravated life sentences and fixed-term imprisonment, and under Article 107/3-a of the Law on the Execution of Sentences, he would have to stay in a high-security penal institution for at least 36 years.
Therefore, the evaluations made by some circles in the public that "he received a life sentence and was released" do not reflect the truth; they stem from a lack of information regarding the legal and execution process," he stated.