01.10.2025 13:50
A minibus driver who verbally harassed a young girl on a minibus in Mardin was sentenced to a judicial fine equivalent to 135 days by the court. The young girl's father stated that they were pleased with the decision and emphasized that justice has been served.
On February 10 in Mardin, E.R.Y. (19), who was returning from a tutoring center, was subjected to verbal harassment by the driver of the minibus she boarded. Following her complaint, a case was opened against the defendant H.P. (55), who was sentenced to a judicial fine equivalent to 135 days. Father Ahmet Y. stated, "Justice has been served, the decision has eased our hearts." E.R.Y., who was preparing for the university entrance exam, boarded the minibus to return home after leaving the tutoring center on February 10. After the passengers got off, the driver H.P. called her over and asked her to sit in the seat behind him. Then H.P. began to talk to E.R.Y. He expressed that he liked her very much and wanted to be friends, continuing his words despite the young girl's reaction. The driver, who did not stop at the stops, continued to verbally harass her. When she finally said she wanted to get off, the driver stopped the minibus, opened the door, and let E.R.Y. out. E.R.Y. went to the police with her family to file a complaint after explaining the situation.
As part of the initiated investigation, the security camera footage of the minibus obtained from the Metropolitan Municipality Transportation Department was examined. In the footage, H.P. is seen calling E.R.Y. over by saying, "You are sitting too far away," then saying, "You are a very sweet girl, can we be friends?" He continued with, "I am single. Can we be friends? It shouldn't be said like that, you are right, but you are a nice girl, I liked you, I found you attractive. I would like to talk on the phone from time to time," was heard.
'THEY RUINED MY JOB, I WAS EMBARRASSED'
In the indictment prepared by the prosecutor's office, it was stated, "It has been understood that the suspect committed the crime of sexual harassment defined in Article 105/1-1 of the Turkish Penal Code, and there is sufficient evidence to open a public case against the suspect; it is requested and claimed that the suspect be punished according to the above-mentioned articles and be deprived of certain rights in accordance with Article 53 of the Turkish Penal Code No. 5237 due to the crime he committed intentionally." The indictment was accepted by the 6th Criminal Court of First Instance in Mardin.
The first hearing of the case was held. The hearing began with identity determination, and the defendant H.P. stated that he was repeating his previous defenses and did not accept the charges against him. Upon this, the presiding judge read the transcribed audio recordings of the footage to the defendant. H.P. stated, "I have no comments on the audio recording you read to me, but I did not say anything to the girl. I did not say anything with bad intentions. There is nothing wrong with what I said. They ruined my job, I was embarrassed. They shared the audio recording everywhere," he said.
135 DAYS EQUIVALENT JUDICIAL FINE
After the defense, the prosecutor requested that the defendant be convicted due to the established act. After a short recess, the court decided to punish the defendant with a judicial fine equivalent to 180 days for the crime of 'sexual harassment' and ruled that there was no ground for a reduction in accordance with Article 62 of the Turkish Penal Code. Later, upon the objection of the participant's attorney to the decision made according to the simple trial procedure, it was decided to reduce the sentence by 1/4, resulting in a judicial fine equivalent to 135 days.
FATHER: WE ARE SATISFIED WITH THE DECISION
After the hearing, E.R.Y.'s father Ahmet Y. (52) spoke to DHA, expressing his satisfaction with the decision and stating that justice had been served, "It has eased our hearts a little. My daughter was preparing for the university entrance exam. Although she lost a year, thank God she is currently continuing her education. She is preparing for the exam. We are satisfied with the decision given," he said.
'HE RECEIVED THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE PUNISHMENT'
The family's lawyer Gurbet Bilbay stated that the defendant received the highest possible punishment, saying, "My client was harassed by the minibus driver while returning home from the tutoring center. She also lost a year. In the hearing, the defendant denied the allegations despite the footage. Even three days after the incident, when he confessed to following the girl, our prosecutor reacted. Here, we once again saw our trust in Turkish justice; justice was served. He received the maximum penalty, and the judge did not apply any reductions. He received the highest possible punishment."