13.05.2026 10:40
The justification for the 9-year 7-month prison sentence given to the defendant who robbed a jewelry store in Kayseri using a stolen forklift and then fled on a donkey has been announced. The court stated that the defendant acted with a mask and his defense was not sincere.
The reasoning behind the 9-year 7-month prison sentence given to Mehmet Ç., who broke the shutter of a jewelry store with a stolen forklift and escaped on a donkey after stealing gold in Kayseri, has been announced. The court assessed that the defendant's defense was “contrary to the ordinary course of life and insincere.”
ENTERED THE JEWELRY STORE WITH A STOLEN FORKLIFT
The incident occurred on February 9 in Tekin Street, İldem Cumhuriyet Neighborhood, Melikgazi district. Mehmet Ç. arrived in front of the jewelry store with a stolen forklift he found on the road. The suspect broke the shutters with the forklift, entered the store, and stole approximately 150 grams of gold ornaments. Police teams examined security cameras and quickly captured the suspect. The gold ornaments, found buried in the soil, were returned to their owner. Footage from security cameras showed Mehmet Ç. breaking the shutter with the forklift, taking the gold, and then fleeing the scene on a donkey.
UP TO 16 YEARS IN PRISON WAS SOUGHT
In the indictment prepared by the Kayseri Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, a total prison sentence of up to 16 years was sought for Mehmet Ç. on charges of “damaging property,” “violating the inviolability of a workplace,” and “theft of goods kept under protection within a building.” At the trial held in Kayseri 12th Criminal Court of First Instance, the defendant made his defense via SEGBIS. In his statement, Mehmet Ç. said he went out for a walk after drinking alcohol, started the forklift he saw on the road by hotwiring it, entered the jewelry store and stole the gold. The suspect also stated that he rode a donkey, which he had left about 500 meters ahead, and went home.
9 YEARS 7 MONTHS PRISON SENTENCE
The court sentenced Mehmet Ç. to 7 years and 6 months for “theft of goods kept under protection within a building,” 1 year and 3 months for “violating the inviolability of a workplace,” and 10 months for “damaging property.” The defendant received a total prison sentence of 9 years and 7 months, and it was decided to continue his detention.
“HE WAS WEARING A MASK ON HIS FACE”
In the reasoned decision announced by the court, it was stated that the defendant started the forklift by short-circuiting it at night, crashed it into the jewelry store to break the shutter, and was wearing a mask on his face. The decision also stated that Mehmet Ç. put the gold in a bag and left the store, then went home on a donkey and hid the gold ornaments in one of the pigeon nests.
COURT'S ASSESSMENT: “NOT SINCERE”
The court did not find the defendant’s defense convincing, where he claimed he could not tell the police the location of the gold but gestured to his father. In the reasoned decision, it was emphasized that the defendant’s defense was contrary to the ordinary course of life and that the conditions for applying the provisions of effective remorse were not met.