02.12.2025 09:47
A verdict has been reached in the case of the defendants who sexually harassed an unknown young woman in the middle of the street in Beyoğlu. The court sentenced Semir T. to 9 years and Ömer K. to 7 years and 6 months in prison, and decided to release them due to the time they had already spent in detention. Additionally, the court ruled for their acquittal on the charge of "deprivation of liberty."
On September 23, 2024, in Beyoğlu, Istanbul, the trial of defendants Ömer K. (27) and Semir T. (31), who blocked the way of İremşan A. (25) while she was walking on the street to go home, knocked her to the ground, and sexually assaulted her, has concluded.
During the recent hearing at the Istanbul Heavy Penal Court, detained defendants Ömer K. and Semir T. connected via the Audio and Visual Information System (SEGBİS). The victim İremşan A. and the attorneys for both parties were present in the courtroom. When asked for their final words, the defendants requested their release and acquittal from the court.
PRISON SENTENCE AND RELEASE DECISION FOR DEFENDANTS
The court announced its decision, sentencing defendant Semir T. to 9 years in prison for the crime of 'sexual assault with multiple persons,' taking into account his previous finalized sentence. The panel sentenced defendant Ömer K. to 7 years and 6 months in prison for the same crime, and decided to release both defendants separately, considering the time they had spent in detention.
The court also ruled that the crime could not have been committed without temporarily depriving the victim of her freedom of movement, and since there were no other actions restricting her freedom, the actions of the two defendants only constituted the crime of "sexual assault." Therefore, it ruled for the separate acquittal of both defendants from the charge of 'depriving a person of their freedom' due to the lack of legal elements.
FROM THE INDICTMENT
In the indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was stated that on the day of the incident, the complainant İremşan A. had consumed alcohol at a nightclub and left around 4:00 AM to go home. While walking on the street, she was approached by the suspects Ömer K. and Semir T., whom she did not know previously, who blocked her path and touched her shoulder. Although İremşan A. tried to escape, the suspects cornered her, during which Semir T. grabbed the complainant's waist, made contact with her body, stroked her hair, and did not let go, even knocking her down and getting on top of her. It was reported that the other suspect, Ömer K., was surveying the surroundings. The indictment noted that nearby people intervened and removed the suspects upon witnessing the incident.
The indictment requested that suspects Ömer K. and Semir T. be sentenced to a total of 10 years and 6 months to 30 years in prison for the crimes of 'depriving a person of their freedom' and 'simple sexual assault' against a person who is unable to defend themselves physically or mentally.