Controversy Surrounding Tooth Extraction with Pliers in Ayhan Bora Kaplan Case
The trial of 61 defendants, including 28 who are currently detained, linked to the Ayhan Bora Kaplan criminal organization, is ongoing. The proceedings took place in the hall of Ankara 32nd High Criminal Court Sincan Penitentiary Institutions Campus, with both detained and undetained defendants, complainants, and party lawyers present.
During the hearing, the presiding judge announced that the trial will proceed with the statements from lawyers at this stage. One of the defendant’s lawyers, Muhammet Hardalaş, representing Barış Kurt, argued that his client’s name only appeared in the statements of Erkan Doğan. Hardalaş pointed out that in Doğan’s first statement to law enforcement officers, Barış Kurt was not mentioned. It was only in the fifth statement that Doğan brought up Kurt’s name, excluding him from any involvement in crimes like torture, plunder, and intentional injury. Hardalaş urged for Kurt’s release and acquittal, emphasizing that his name was absent from Doğan’s latest statements.
Bora Kaplan’s lawyer, Doğan Soyaslan, disputed allegations that his client had used pliers to pull out 3-4 teeth, stating that such claims were implausible. Soyaslan questioned how Kaplan would have obtained the pliers and highlighted the risks of such actions. He made a plea for his client’s release.
Umut Köroğlu, another lawyer representing Bora Kaplan, declared that they would not present a defense on the merits, as Kaplan was added to the file following his arrest. Köroğlu mentioned that Kaplan had traveled abroad for a particular event.
The lawyers of other defendants also maintained their clients’ innocence, arguing that the indictment lacked solid evidence. The hearing is set to continue the following day.
