"Has the stepfather, the suspect in the murder of baby Sıla, been released? There is a statement from the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office."

In the Malkara district of Tekirdağ, a two-year-old baby named Sıla Yeniçeri was taken to Malkara State Hospital by her mother B.Y. on September 8, on the grounds that she had not 'woken up.' Upon examination, it was determined that she had suffered a brain hemorrhage and was referred to Tekirdağ Dr. İsmail Fehmi Cumalıoğlu City Hospital on suspicion of sexual abuse.

Sıla, who lost her 30-day battle for life in the hospital, had her mother B.Y. (25), her partner S.Ö. (57), their neighbor K.A. (32), and K.A.'s 13-year-old son and 14-year-old G.K. taken into custody and subsequently arrested by the court. Sıla's 5-year-old sibling A.Y. was placed under state protection. The forensic medical report confirmed that Sıla had been subjected to assault and sexual abuse.

CLAIM OF STEPFATHER'S RELEASE

In a case that has captured Turkey's attention, it was claimed that S.Ö., the stepfather among those arrested in connection with Sıla's death, had been released.

STATEMENT FROM TEKİRDAĞ COURTHOUSE

In a statement from the Tekirdağ Courthouse, it was noted that the suspect S.Ö. had been released from this case, but was still in a closed penal institution due to a separate case involving obscenity; "On 08.09.2024, regarding the incident of Sıla Yeniçeri being subjected to sexual abuse and her subsequent death after treatment, our Malkara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has immediately initiated an investigation.

In the investigation, the minors G.K. and K.A., who were assessed to have committed the crime, were arrested for the crime of sexual abuse of a child; mother B.Y. was arrested for the crimes of destroying and concealing evidence and violating care and supervision obligations. Suspect B.Y. has been in custody since 10.09.2024; the minors involved have been in custody since 11.09.2024 and are still in a closed penal institution. The mother’s partner S.Ö. and the father of the minors, K.A., were also arrested on 12.09.2024 for the crime of sexual abuse of a child to ensure the complete collection of evidence.

Considering the stage of the investigation and the status of the collected evidence, during the review of detention, the Peace Criminal Court decided on the release of suspect K.A. on 08.10.2024; and S.Ö. on 31.10.2024 from this case. The detention of suspect S.Ö. continues from 12.09.2024 for a separate case involving obscenity; suspect B.Y.'s detention continues from 10.09.2024; and the detention of minors G.K. and K.A. continues from 11.09.2024, and they are still in a closed penal institution. Claims in the public regarding the release of the perpetrators of Sıla Yeniçeri do not reflect the truth in this regard.