Üzmez to avoid time inside

The official report by a forensic institution in Istanbul said the girl had not been traumatized by the event, leading to the release of Ãœzmez. The Social Services and Child Protection Agency, or SHÇEK, and the Bursa Bar Association objected to the court’s decision to release Ãœzmez and demanded he be put back in prison.Â

Bursa Bar Association President Zeki Kahraman criticized the court’s decision, arguing the court should authorize the arrest of Üzmez. Objections to the court’s decision and other matters will be heard in another session Dec. 16. 

The SHÇEK was criticized earlier for being late to intervene in the forensic institution’s report, although it had followed developments in the matter. SHÇEK made their application to the court Oct. 31, three days after the court released Üzmez on Oct. 28.

Meanwhile, State Minister Nimet Çubukçu said in Parliament yesterday that they objected to the official forensic report on the victim and were expecting a new report to be released. Laboratory test results showed the victim was exactly 14-years-old at the time, which made the alleged actions of Üzmez a crime, as sexual intercourse with a child under 15 is penalized under Turkish law.

Çubukçu said the laboratory test results and earlier reports which indicated the victim was traumatized by the event, were evidence in support of their application. Â

Female deputies of the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, submitted a proposal last week to double penalties for sexual assault, just days after the release of Ãœzmez.

The proposal to Parliament would increase penalties to between six months and four years imprisonment for the crime of sexual assault, which currently carries a jail term of between four months and three years. If office relationships or hierarchies are used for sexual abuse, those found guilty will be imprisoned for six years.