Turkish director’s son released despite conviction for killing police officer in crash
ISTANBUL
The son of a famous Turkish film director has been released by an Istanbul court after being sentenced to six years and three months in jail on Oct. 4 for killing a police officer and wounding another in a traffic accident.Rüzgar Çetin, the son of director Sinan Çetin, who had been under arrest for eight months, was released despite being sentenced to six years and three months in prison on charges of “culpable negligence” after he caused the death of police officer İsmet Fatih Alagöz in Beşiktaş in Jan. 29 while under the influence of alcohol.
The decision was taken after a court delegation’s vote and despite the prosecutor’s opinion that Çetin must remain under arrest.
In his defense, Çetin claimed the alcohol he imbibed before the incident was not a considerable amount and that he was not under the influence when the accident occurred.
“It was within the legal limits. I was not engaged in an action that would cause an accident. It is also obvious from the recordings of the surveillance cameras that I was not fast,” said Çetin.
The video footage of the accident showing Çetin’s luxury car in the wrong lane had triggered widespread public anger.
The decision was taken after a court delegation’s vote and despite the prosecutor’s opinion that Çetin must remain under arrest.
In his defense, Çetin claimed the alcohol he imbibed before the incident was not a considerable amount and that he was not under the influence when the accident occurred.
“It was within the legal limits. I was not engaged in an action that would cause an accident. It is also obvious from the recordings of the surveillance cameras that I was not fast,” said Çetin.
The video footage of the accident showing Çetin’s luxury car in the wrong lane had triggered widespread public anger.
