08.05.2025 19:10
The former mayor of Beşiktaş, Murat Hazinedar, was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison and a political ban due to charges of 'bribery' and 'abuse of power'.
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The court announced its decision in the case regarding the crimes of 'bribery' and 'extortion' against the Beşiktaş Municipality. The defendant Murat Hazinedar, who is not in custody, was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison for the crime of 'repeatedly abusing his position' and also received a political ban due to the 'imposition of a prison sentence.'
The decision was announced in the case where defendants, including former Beşiktaş Mayor Murat Hazinedar, are being tried for the alleged crimes of 'extortion' and 'bribery' committed by employees of Beşiktaş Municipality. In the hearing held recently at the Istanbul 31st Heavy Penal Court, 8 defendants, including Murat Hazinedar and Hüseyin Avni Sipahi, along with their lawyers, were present.
REQUESTED ACQUITTAL
In the hearing, when asked for their final words, defendant Murat Hazinedar stated, "All the accusations against me have been based on documents obtained unlawfully. Many cases have been opened against me so far, and I have been acquitted in most of them. I request my acquittal in this case as well."
Defendant Celal Abbas, who is not in custody, said, "First, they called us a gang, and we don't know what to say anymore. This case has been ongoing for 3 years. I want my acquittal now." Defendant Hüseyin Avni Sipahi, asserting that he did not commit a crime, stated, "Very serious accusations have been made against me. If I am to be tried for abusing my position, permission from the Ministry of Interior is required for that. I did not commit any crime, and that was not my intention. I request my acquittal."
2 YEARS AND 6 MONTHS PRISON SENTENCE FOR MURAT HAZİNEDAR
The court, announcing its decision on the merits, sentenced the defendant Murat Hazinedar, who is not in custody, to 2 years and 6 months in prison for the crime of 'repeatedly abusing his position' and sentenced the defendant Çetin Kırışgil, who is not in custody, to 1 year and 10 days in prison for the crime of 'abusing his position.' The court also sentenced the defendant Hüseyin Avni Sipahi to 2 years and 3 months in prison for the crime of 'abusing his position,' and sentenced Municipal Council Member Çetin Kırışgil and Data Preparation and Control Operator Mürvet Günday to 1 year and 10 months and 15 days in prison each, while Vice President Rıfat Örnek was sentenced to 1 year and 10 months and 15 days in prison.
POLITICAL BAN DECISION
Additionally, in the decision regarding the merits, Hazinedar, who was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison, also received a political ban due to the 'imposition of a prison sentence.'
UP TO 70 YEARS OF IMPRISONMENT WAS SOUGHT
In the indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was requested that suspect Murat Hazinedar be sentenced to a total of 70 years and 6 months to 154 years in prison for the crimes of 'attempting to commit extortion,' 'extortion,' 'bribery,' and 'abusing his position.' It was requested that suspect Hüseyin Avni Sipahi be sentenced to 43.5 to 96 years for the same crimes, suspect Rıfat Örnek to 29 to 62 years, Çetin Kırışgil to 10 to 20 years, and other defendants to varying prison sentences ranging from 4 to 37 years.
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