Court releases one defendant, keeps four in custody in Beykoz municipality trial

The eighth hearing of the trial concerning an investigation into Beykoz Municipality staff and executives concluded at the Istanbul courthouse. Forty suspects are on trial, five of whom are in custody, including suspended Mayor Alaattin Köseler. Detained defendants were brought to the conference hall of the Anadolu 17th Heavy Penal Court from prison, while non-custody defendants and their lawyers also attended.

The court decided to release detained defendant Veli Gümüş on the condition that he does not leave his residence. The detention of four other suspects was continued.

“I did not wrong anyone. If I had money, I would have paid for my place at the Bosphorus, which has been awaiting signature for six years.”

When detained defendant Alaattin Köseler entered the hall, spectators applauded. The presiding judge intervened and asked those applauding to stand up. Since no one stood, the court ordered all spectators except first-degree relatives of the defendants to leave the hall.

Beykoz Municipality Deputy Mayor Yavuz Ayvaz testified as a witness about the demolition process. He said he planned demolition decisions 14 days after the building inspection directorate was assigned to him, and that during the first demolition his phone rang seven or eight times. He stated that a person told him to stop the demolition because the place belonged to him, identifying that person as Ahmet Taşkıran. He said police and municipal guards and all technical personnel were present during the demolition, and that he stopped the demolition after receiving an order to suspend execution.

Non-custody defendant Ahmet Orhan Taşkıran responded to the allegations in his defense, saying he had wronged no one and that if he had money he would have paid for his property at the Bosphorus, which had been awaiting signature for six years.

Suspended Mayor Alaattin Köseler objected to the accusations in the indictment during his defense. The hearing was adjourned.