07.03.2025 14:32
A lawsuit has been filed against TÜSİAD President Orhan Turhan and TÜSİAD High Advisory Council President Mehmet Ömer Arif Aras for the crime of "Publicly Disseminating Misleading Information through the Press and Broadcasting" in a chain manner. The indictment seeks a prison sentence of up to 5 years and 3 months for the TÜSİAD presidents.
```html
The President of TÜSİAD, Orhan Turan, and the Chairman of the TÜSİAD High Advisory Council, Ömer Aras, have been indicted and a public case has been opened against them.
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office initiated an investigation against Orhan TURAN, the President of the Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen's Association (TÜSİAD), and Mehmet Ömer Arif ARAS, the Chairman of the High Advisory Council, due to their statements during the TÜSİAD general assembly held on February 13, 2025, which allegedly influenced and directed the judiciary and contained false, disinformation statements. An indictment was prepared against Turan and Aras for the crimes of 'Publicly Disseminating Misleading Information' and 'Attempting to Influence Fair Trial'.
UP TO 5 YEARS IN PRISON SOUGHT
The prepared indictment seeks a prison sentence of 1 year and 3 months to 5 years for the two individuals.
TÜSİAD President Orhan Turan and TÜSİAD High Advisory Council Chairman Mehmet Ömer Arif Aras had given statements to the prosecutor regarding these allegations.
The two TÜSİAD executives were released with a travel ban after being brought before the court.
WHAT HAPPENED?
The investigation was initiated following the speeches at the TÜSİAD general assembly held on February 13.
During the meeting, Ömer Aras, the Chairman of the TÜSİAD High Advisory Council, stated, "Elected mayors are being removed from office, and trustees are being appointed in their place. An investigation is initiated against a political party leader, and then they are arrested for a different reason." Aras also commented on the cases against Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, saying, "Investigations are opened just minutes after a press conference regarding the statements made by a metropolitan mayor."
TÜSİAD President Turan stated in his speech at the general assembly, "We cannot solve either internal or external problems without establishing the rule of law."
In a second statement made by TÜSİAD after the investigation decision, it was stated, "We share our findings and recommendations, which we believe to be true, transparently within the framework of respect for democratic institutions and rules and the principle of participatory democracy, as our responsibility to this country."
CHIEF PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE: EXPRESSIONS CONTAINING GUIDANCE WERE USED
The Chief Prosecutor's Office stated that in his speech, TÜSİAD President Orhan Turan used expressions containing guidance and direction regarding certain investigations and prosecutions, and that these expressions were false and capable of disturbing public peace.
After the statement, the prosecutor referred both individuals to the court with a request for a travel ban.
TÜSİAD President Turan and YİK Chairman Aras were released under judicial control with a travel ban imposed.
Orhan Turan stated in his testimony that he is a mechanical engineer. Turan, who declared an average monthly income of 1 million lira, mentioned that he owns a company in the insulation sector, conducts extensive exports abroad, and plans to travel abroad in March and April.
Turan said, "We are working on artificial intelligence. We are trying to bring together Turkish entrepreneurs in that field. My address is clear, I am a businessman, and I request the rejection of the judicial control measure of the travel ban."
```