Man who threw acid at 3-year-old nephew gets nine years in jail

ISTANBUL

A man who threw acid at his 3-year-old nephew was sentenced to nine years in jail by Istanbul court on Dec. 1, Doğan News Agency reported.

Marketing executive Cihan Araçman, 33, was arrested on Oct. 23 after confessing that he threw acid over the son of his sister-in-law, reportedly out of “jealousy.”

One of the lawyers for Araçman defended his client, saying there was no intention in the incident and that the “material” accidently struck the man’s nephew.

Araçman also told the court that he did not know the material in question was acid.

“My biggest and only mistake was supposing the material was paint. I wish I had checked the material. But the only thing that made me happy was that [his nephew] has returned to his social life. I am unhappy and regretful for making him suffer this,” he said.

Araçman has been attacked with knives by several other inmates at Maltepe Prison, where he was under arrest pending trial. Prison guards reportedly saved him before any serious injuries were sustained and he was later transferred to another cell. 

He was married and had a son around the same age as the acid attack victim. The 3-year-old victim lost sight in one eye as a result of the attack and is still receiving treatment in his severely damaged other eye.

The police investigation revealed that Araçman had organized a meal for the entire family on Oct. 17, the night of the attack. During the meal, the children were left in the restaurant’s playground, where restaurant workers were assigned to look after them. 

Araçman, who was carrying the acid in a toothpaste tube, left the table for the playground during the dinner and threw acid in the face of his victim.