28.08.2025 22:31
A police officer named Süleyman Ay, who was tried on charges of sexually assaulting a woman in the Karabağlar district of İzmir, was sentenced to 10 years and 6 months in prison by a local court. The court acquitted the victim, Büşra K., on the grounds that she acted in self-defense. The appellate court, which reviewed the case, upheld the local court's decision, finalizing the sentence.
After the statement process in the Karabağlar district of İzmir, police officer Süleyman Ay (50) was sentenced to 10 years and 6 months in prison without reduction for the charges of 'Sexual assault' and 'Violation of residence immunity' by the local court. The decision was upheld in the appellate court.
The incident occurred on January 31, 2024, around 11:00 PM in an apartment in the TOKİ Housing Complex on 6002 Street in Uzundere Neighborhood. Büşra K. (32), who has four children from her first marriage and is in a second marriage with Cenk K., who she has severe incompatibility with, requested help by pressing the 'KADES' application after her husband came to her house. Police teams arrived shortly and took Büşra K. to the Family Violence Bureau of the Karabağlar District Police Department.
POLICE OFFICER SUSPENDED As part of the investigation, Büşra K. recounted the events in her statement. According to Büşra K.'s claim, police officer Süleyman Ay said, "Such beautiful women don't come here," while giving her candy, and then touched her cheek. After the statement process was completed, Büşra K. got into the police vehicle. She was taken home by Süleyman Ay and another police officer, Ş.M. After getting out of the vehicle, Ay said, "Let me check the door," and entered Büşra K.'s house. After taking off his gun and jacket and placing them in front of the mirror in the house, Ay cornered Büşra K. and sexually assaulted her. Büşra K. tried to fend off Ay and fired the gun she grabbed from in front of the mirror. Police officer Ay was injured in the abdomen. Büşra K. went out to the balcony and shouted for help, "The police attacked me. Help. I shot the police." Police officer Ay was taken to Dokuz Eylul University Hospital by ambulance and was discharged after treatment. After the incident, Büşra K. was arrested at the courthouse she was sent to. Police officer Ay was suspended. Büşra K. was later released to be tried without detention.
INDICTMENT ACCEPTED After the investigation was completed, the prepared indictment stated that Süleyman Ay was charged with 'Violation of residence immunity' for 1 to 3 years, 'Depriving a person of their freedom for sexual purposes using force, threat, or deception' for 3 to 10.5 years, 'Attempted qualified sexual assault' for 7.5 to 15 years, 'Repeated sexual harassment' for 6 months to 3 years, and 'Sexual assault by harassment' for 2 to 5 years, totaling a request for imprisonment of 14 to 36.5 years. The indictment was accepted by the İzmir 1st Heavy Criminal Court. Ay denied the allegations against him during the trial. In the trial held in February at the İzmir 1st Heavy Criminal Court, a decision was made. Ay was sentenced to 6 years in prison for 'sexual assault,' which was increased to 9 years due to being a public official. He was also sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in prison for 'violation of residence immunity,' resulting in a total sentence of 10 years and 6 months without reduction. The court ruled that Büşra K. committed the alleged crimes in order to escape the attack against her and decided on her acquittal.
APPEALED TO HIGHER COURT Following the lawyers' objections, the case was taken to the appellate court. The İzmir Regional Court of Justice 1st Criminal Chamber, which reviewed the case, found no procedural or substantive legal violations in the sentences given to Ay and the acquittal decision for Büşra K., and concluded that there were no deficiencies in the evidence and procedures. The chamber upheld the local court's decision, stating that the local court's assessment was appropriate in terms of proof and that the grounds for appeal were not valid.