Major tried for ‘rape of soldiers’

ISTANBUL - Radikal

A Turkish major is being tried by a civilian court for forcing several soldiers under his command to have sexual intercourse with him, Son.tv news website reported on March 29.

Maj. O.Ö. who was in charge of several soldiers in the northern Cyprus 28th mechanized pedestrian division five years ago, allegedly raped a number of soldiers under his command by using his superior position to threaten them.

Capt. S.O. allegedly heard rumors that soldiers had been raped and convinced them to file a complaint. Four soldiers filed a complaint to the military prosecutor.

Maj. O.Ö. was dismissed from the Armed Forces and sentenced to two years and three months in jail. The military prosecutor appealed the decision, saying the sentence was too low. The military’s court of appeals subsequently decided that the case would be tried in a civilian court. Maj. O.Ö. is being tried without arrest by the Üsküdar 3rd High Criminal Court.