08.02.2025 07:40
In the case of 2-year-old Sıla, who lost her life due to assault and sexual abuse, her mother Bakiye was sentenced to 27 years and 9 months in prison, while the children K.A. received 20 years and 6 months, and G.K. was sentenced to 7 years. Sani O., who lived with the mother, and neighbor Kani A. were acquitted. While these sentences have drawn reactions, the Ministry of Family and Social Services will appeal the sentences given to the defendants. The ministry will request a sentence at the upper limit.
In the case regarding the death of 2-year-old Sıla, who died in the hospital after being sexually abused and beaten in Tekirdağ, mother Bakiye Yeniçeri was sentenced to 27 years and 9 months for three separate crimes, while the minors involved, K.A. received 20 years and 6 months for two separate crimes, and G.K. was sentenced to 7 years in prison. The decisions received reactions from all segments of society.
The closed hearing held at the Tekirdağ 2nd High Criminal Court was attended by the defendants, mother Bakiye Yeniçeri, and the minors K.A. and G.K. via the Audio and Visual Information System (SEGBİS) from their respective prisons.
MOTHER DEFENDED HER INNOCENCE
K.A.'s father, K.A., and S.Ö., with whom the mother was living and who was arrested in another investigation, were present in the courtroom.
During the third hearing of the case, the defendants were asked for their final words.
Mother Bakiye Yeniçeri claimed that she was forced to work in a nightclub at gunpoint, which led her to leave her baby with a neighbor from time to time, asserting her innocence.
The minors K.A. and G.K. also stated that they did not accept the accusations against them. Other defendants also claimed their innocence.
After the break, the court panel announced its decision, sentencing mother Bakiye Yeniçeri to a total of 27 years and 9 months for "manslaughter by negligence," "destruction of evidence," and "failure to report a crime," while minor K.A. received 20 years and 6 months for "qualified sexual assault" and "manslaughter," and the other minor G.Y. was sentenced to 7 years for "qualified sexual assault."
Defendants K.A.'s father K.A. and the mother’s partner S.Ö. were acquitted.
PENALTIES FOUND INSUFFICIENT
Saadet Özkan, the President of the Saadet Teacher Child Abuse Prevention Association, stated that they closely followed the process and argued that the court's decision saddened people.
Tekirdağ Bar Association President Egemen Gürcün expressed that the penalties given were not as they had expected.
Emphasizing that they have been following the process for justice since the first day of the incident, Gürcün said:
"The decisions given were not as we expected. Mother Bakiye received 24 years for negligence, 3 years for destruction of evidence, and 9 months for failure to report a crime. The adults K.A. and S.Ö. were acquitted of deprivation of liberty and sexual assault charges.
Minor G.K. received 7 years for the crime of qualified abuse of a child. Minor K.A. was sentenced to 7 years for the crime of qualified abuse of a child and 13 years and 6 months for manslaughter."
Gürcün claimed that there are deficiencies in preventing crime in Turkey.
"WE WILL APPEAL THE DECISION"
Sıla's aunt, Aslı Güler, claimed that the criminals did not receive the punishments they deserved.
After the court's decision today, Güler expressed that their consciences were troubled and that they would appeal the sentences given, stating, "Because those who deserve it did not receive the punishment they deserved. The mother is being tried for 24 years; let her be tried. Why didn’t the others receive this punishment? What does it mean to be acquitted? I am not saying anything anymore, but this process is not over."
MINISTRY OF FAMILY AND SOCIAL SERVICES WILL APPEAL THE DECISION
The Ministry of Family and Social Services will appeal the sentences given to the defendants regarding the death of 2-year-old Sıla, who died in the hospital after being sexually abused and beaten in Tekirdağ, after the reasoned decision is announced.
According to the information obtained, the Ministry of Family and Social Services, which has been involved in the case from the very beginning, will apply to the appellate court to appeal the sentences given to the defendants after the reasoned decision is announced.
The Ministry will request that all defendants and minors involved in the case be punished "without any reduction in discretion from the upper limit" for the actions attributed to them and will also demand that defendant B.Y. and K.A.'s father K.A. be punished for "participation in manslaughter."