Fake preacher sentenced to prison for sexual assault in central Turkey

KAYSERİ – Doğan News Agency

A fake preacher has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexually assaulting a woman who had sought his help for her psychological problems in the Talas district of the Central Anatolian province of Kayseri.

The fake preacher, Muhammet Açıkgöz, 41, went to Kayseri after he was called to “cure” the housewife, Perihan U., 28, on April 24, 2015. 

The relatives of Perihan U., who suffered from psychological problems after her divorce, called the “hodja” after coming to the conclusion that psychological treatment was not able to help her. 

A relative of the woman called Açıkgöz after hearing about him and bought him tickets to fly to Kayseri from Istanbul. 

The fake preacher went to the woman’s house and sexually assaulted her, which was revealed when Perihan U. shouted for help.

“This man is not a hodja, he is a pervert,” shouted Perihan U., and the incident the people in the house handed Açıkgöz over to the police. Açıkgöz was arrested after appearing in court.

He has denied all claims, saying he has an “erection problem” due to a surgery he went through years ago.