Police chief sentenced to 28 years for sexually abusing 14-year-old girl

ISTANBUL – Doğan News Agency

Some 34 people, including two police chiefs and students, were initially arrested during the investigation, but only one was found guilty. DHA Photo

A court in Turkey’s northwestern province of Sakarya has sentenced a police chief to 28 years and four months in prison on charges of sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl.

A total of 34 people, including two police chiefs and students, were initially arrested on charges of abusing and raping the high school student, identified only with the initials Ö.Ç., as a part of the investigation.

The police chief, identified as N.Ş., who has been sent in prison, was the only suspect under arrest. N.Ş. was sentenced to 19 years and four months on charges of “sexually abusing a minor” and  nine more months for “depriving someones’s personal freedom.” N.Ş. reportedly claimed that he was innocent in his last defense at the court.

The students, who were previously released pending trial as they were under 18, were sentenced five years and four months in prison, but the court decided to suspend the verdict for five years.

The lawyer for Ö.Ç., Harika Kalay, reacted to the court desicion, saying the verdict was a shame.

“There were 34 suspects in the case. And only the police chief, who is older, has been punished. This is not enough. Others will move on because the verdict was suspended,” Kalay said. “A rape case was declared innocent by the government. ... Today we see the appearance of supported male-dominant morality.”

Kalay said they would appeal the decision.

The girl has been under government protection and received psychological treatment after the incident was revealed in 2012. A confidentiality order was issued for the case.