24.08.2026 18:50
In the Aziz Ihsan Crime Organization case, Ahmet Ozer, the suspended mayor of Esenyurt who was sentenced to 8 months and 10 days in prison and remains free pending trial, has made his first statement. Ozer said, "This is a sort of null and void decision. It is not an obstacle to my return to duty. Because a decision was made to defer the announcement of the verdict."
In the case of the 'Aziz Ihsan Aktas criminal organization', a verdict hearing was held in the trial where 5 arrested defendants, including 2 mayors, and 200 defendants tried without arrest were tried. The court decided to acquit Ahmet Özer, who was among those tried without arrest and was removed from his post as Mayor of Esenyurt, on the charge of forgery in official documents. Özer was sentenced to 8 months and 10 days in prison for the crime of 'Misconduct through negligence'. The announcement of the verdict was postponed.
AHMET ÖZER: THE EXECUTION OF THE SENTENCE WAS DEFERRED
Ahmet Özer made the first statement after the decision. Stating that the decision does not prevent his return to duty, Özer said: "I was being tried regarding actions 30 and 31. One was bid rigging and the other was forgery of official documents. I was acquitted of both. But for some reason, there was a claim of negligence. Although two expert reports stated that I had no involvement whatsoever in these matters, and another report said, 'Özer has no involvement, but it could be negligence,' I received an 8-month 10-day sentence for negligence. The execution of this sentence has also been deferred.
"IT IS NOT AN OBSTACLE TO MY RETURN TO DUTY"
It is somewhat null and void. We were expecting justice to prevail. This was also an acquittal decision. All lawyers were expecting me to be acquitted of these charges. It seems like a sentence given just to impose a penalty, based on a claim not in the indictment. This is not an obstacle to my return to duty. Because the decision was made to defer the announcement of the verdict.
I was saddened by the disproportionate sentences given to our other mayor colleagues. My expectation was this: Our mayors have already served time in prison; they served a significant portion of their sentences. I expected acquittals, but each of them received sentences that could be considered heavy. This has made the peaceful environment we expected a bit tense. It has sabotaged it."
A STATEMENT ALSO CAME FROM HIS LAWYER
Özer's lawyer, Hüseyin Ersöz, stated: "The court did not sentence Özer for bid rigging. However, despite 'there being no evidence' and 'expert reports in his favor' on this matter, it decided to defer the announcement of the verdict (HAGB) for the crime of 'Misconduct through negligence'. He was acquitted of the crime of 'Forgery in Private Documents'. This decision does not constitute an obstacle to Ahmet Özer's return to duty. However, since a HAGB was given instead of an acquittal verdict, we will pursue legal remedies.""}