06.03.2026 19:08
The Istanbul Regional Court of Appeals rejected the appeals regarding the case of the accident in which 17-year-old Batın Barlas Çeki lost his life, upholding the 2 years and 6 months prison sentence given to Fatma Zehra Kınık Demir, the daughter of former Red Crescent President Kerem Kınık. With this decision, Zehra Kınık's sentence has been confirmed. In the ruling, the postponement of the announcement of the verdict was not applied, and the sentence was not converted into a monetary fine.
A new development has occurred in the case regarding the traffic accident in Istanbul, where 17-year-old Batın Barlasçeki lost his life and 3 others were injured.
The appeals against the prison sentence given to Fatıma Zehra Kınık Demir, daughter of former Kızılay General President Kerem Kınık, have been rejected. Thus, the 2 years and 6 months prison sentence and the decision to revoke her driving license for 1 year have become final.
APPEALS EVALUATED
The Istanbul Regional Court of Appeals 19th Criminal Chamber, which reviewed the decision, evaluated the appeals made to the file. The chamber stated that there was no procedural or substantive legal violation in the decision of the first-instance court and rejected the appeals.
It was emphasized in the decision that the trial conducted, the evidence collected, and the court's assessment were in accordance with the law. It was also decided to send a copy of the file to the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office of the Regional Court of Appeals.
THE FIRST DECISION WAS 4 YEARS AND 2 MONTHS IN PRISON
The first decision regarding the case of the accident was given on May 26, 2025, against Fatıma Zehra Kınık Demir. The Istanbul Anadolu 8th Heavy Penal Court sentenced the defendant to 4 years and 2 months in prison and revoked her driving license for 2 years.
However, after some complaints were withdrawn, the file was re-evaluated. In its second decision given on December 18, 2025, the same court reduced the sentence to 2 years and 6 months and set the driving license revocation period to 1 year. Additionally, it was ruled that the defendant's travel ban abroad would continue.
MOTHER WITHDREW HER COMPLAINT
Hasret Doğan, the mother of Batın Barlasçeki, who lost his life during the trial process, informed the court that she withdrew her complaint, stating that her material and moral damages had been compensated.
Nevertheless, the appeal review was completed, and the applications were rejected on the grounds that there was no legal violation in the court's decision.
CONVERTING THE SENTENCE TO A FINE IS NOT POSSIBLE
The attorney for the complainant, Uysal Uğurlu, stated that with this decision of the appeal, the case has become final for Zehra Kınık. Uğurlu expressed that converting the sentence to a fine is not possible and that the defendant will have to enter prison within the timeframe calculated under the execution law.
Uğurlu also mentioned that although Hasret Doğan, who withdrew her complaint, has the right to appeal the appeal decision, it is not expected that she will exercise this right.