25.12.2025 18:32
Three taxi drivers who were tried for allegedly assaulting Alper Özcan, who was working through a passenger transport application in Ankara, were sentenced to prison, while one was acquitted.
Three taxi drivers, who are being tried for allegedly assaulting Alper Özcan, who works through a passenger transport application in Ankara, were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 3 years 4 months to 12.5 years, while one was acquitted.
On January 29 in Ankara, taxi drivers Abdurrahman A. and Murat A., who got into Alper Özcan's car as customers, stated that they wanted to go to Dikmen. When they arrived in Kızılay, Abdurrahman A. and Murat A. asked the driver to stop the vehicle.
THEY ASSAULTED THE DRIVER
Two individuals who stopped the vehicle near Güvenpark claimed to be taxi drivers and tried to forcibly remove Özcan from the car. While insulting Özcan, the suspects also recorded their actions on video. During this time, other taxi drivers in the vicinity, Umut Can K. and Ömer Berkan A., also threatened Özcan and attempted to forcibly remove him from the vehicle. Following Özcan's complaint, the suspects were detained and subsequently arrested by the court.
THEY WERE RELEASED DURING THE TRIAL PROCESS
After the investigation into the incident, an indictment was prepared. In the indictment, the defendants faced charges of 'Attempted robbery at night', 'Threat with multiple people', 'Deprivation of liberty', and 'Intentional injury', with a request for up to 22 years of imprisonment. In the first hearing held on April 28, it was ruled for the release of defendants Umut Can K. and Ömer Berkan A. with a travel ban as a judicial control measure, and in the second hearing on July 8, the same decision was made for detained defendants Abdurrahman A. and Murat A.
"I DID NOT TRY TO TAKE HIS KEY"
In the decision hearing held today at the Ankara 36th High Criminal Court, Umut Can K., Ömer Berkan A., Abdurrahman A., and their lawyers attended. In his defense, Abdurrahman A. stated, "I did not try to take the car's key. I tried to hold his hand so that he wouldn't hit us. We are taxi drivers too; robbery is out of the question. I request my acquittal." Umut Can K. and Ömer Berkan A. also requested their acquittal.
PENALTIES WERE ANNOUNCED
After the lawyers' statements, the court panel announced its decision, sentencing Abdurrahman A. to a total of 12.5 years in prison for 'Attempted qualified robbery' (7.5 years), 'Deprivation of liberty' (3 years 4 months), and 'Threat' (1 year 8 months). The panel acquitted Ömer Berkan A. of the charge of 'Qualified robbery' but sentenced him to 3 years 4 months in prison for 'Intentional injury' and 'Deprivation of liberty'. It was also decided to postpone the announcement of the sentence for Ömer Berkan A. regarding the 1 year 8 months prison sentence for 'Threat'. Murat A. received a 10 year 10 month prison sentence for 'Attempted qualified robbery' and 'Deprivation of liberty', while Umut Can K. was acquitted of all charges.