09.02.2026 14:10
In the case where 5 defendants, 4 of whom are in custody, are being tried regarding allegations of sexual abuse in the Turkish Grand National Assembly cafeteria, it was decided to release the defendants due to the time spent in custody and the lack of flight risk. Thus, there are no longer any defendants being tried in custody. The trial has been postponed to May 15.
The court decided to release 4 detained defendants in the abuse case against intern students at the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM).
HEARING POSTPONED
The decision stated that the defendants' detention period and flight risk were not present. The hearing was postponed to May 15.
RELEASE UNDER JUDICIAL CONTROL
The Ankara 57th Criminal Court of First Instance, which is handling the sexual harassment case at the TBMM cafeteria, decided on the interim ruling during today's second hearing of the case to release 5 defendants, 4 of whom are detained, due to the collection of sufficient evidence and their residence at a fixed address, with a request for a travel ban under judicial control. Thus, there are no longer any defendants being tried in detention in the case.
For the defendants, prison sentences of up to 16 years and 6 months are being sought for the crimes of "sexual abuse of a child" and "sexual harassment of a child."
WHAT HAPPENED?
The investigation related to the case is being conducted by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.
The incident came to light with the application of four children under the age of 18 to the Child Branch of the Ankara Provincial Police Department.
The indictment regarding the investigation recalled that an investigation was initiated based on the allegations that the four children were harassed by Halil İ.G., Durmuş U., İbrahim B., Ramazan Ç., and Recep S., who worked in the Assembly cafeteria during the period they were interns at the TBMM.
It was stated in the indictment that the children's statements were taken at the Child Monitoring Center, and as a result, 5 defendants were detained, with Halil İ.G., Durmuş U., İbrahim B., and Recep S. being arrested, while Ramazan Ç. was released under judicial control.
The defendants, whose statements were included in the indictment, claimed that there was a "brother-sister relationship" between them and the victims. The defendants argued that the messages they sent to the children were written within the context of a business relationship and that their physical contact at the workplace was not harassment.
WOMAN SUPERVISOR'S "DON'T TELL ANYONE" STATEMENT
According to a report by Sözcü, during the same process, a second harassment allegation came from another intern child who had to leave the institution. The young person claimed that they told their female supervisor about their experiences, but the supervisor told them, "You will not tell anyone about the incident, not even your family."
16 YEARS SOUGHT FOR DEFENDANTS
The indictment prepared against the defendants for sexual abuse of a child by means of harassment and sexual harassment of a child was accepted by the Ankara 57th Criminal Court of First Instance, seeking prison sentences of up to 16 years and 6 months.