Story By: Feza Uzay, Sub-Editor: Marija Stojkoska, Agency: Newsflash
This five-year-old boy who was found dead in a pit with his hands and feet tied was sold by his own mother and her lover to different men so they could abuse him, according to shocking images found on the boyfriend’s phone.
The latest finding was revealed by a Turkish court following an investigation by the Juvenile Branch of the Izmir Provincial Police Department.
It is the latest shocking twist in a story of abuse that started when single mum Mine Durak, 27, was accused of violent behaviour towards her young son, Eymen Sadik Durak, in 2019.
The police were unable to locate her at first, but they eventually found her with relatives, but without her son.
Suspicions were raised when she gave contradictory statements regarding her son’s whereabouts during questioning.
She later claimed the youngster had been beaten to death by her boyfriend, Serkan Elcetin, 38.
The mother gave the police a location, where officers found a bag inside a hole sealed with bricks, in September 2019.
Inside the bag was the lifeless boy with his hands and feet bound.
His body was taken to the Izmir Forensic Medicine Institute for an autopsy and a DNA test.
Officers arrested the mother, her boyfriend, and the latter’s brother, identified only by his initials, E. E..
The mum and her partner were remanded in custody, while E. E. was released on bail.
At a hearing at the Izmir 9th High Criminal Court in July last year, Mine Durak was given an aggravated life sentence for ‘aggravated murder’ and seven years in prison for ‘torment’.
Elcetin, meanwhile, was given an aggravated life sentence for ‘aggravated murder’ and six years in prison for ‘torment’.
Those sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment in Turkey are only eligible for parole after they have served at least 30 years, or 36 years if given more than one sentence.
The court, at the time, acquitted the defendants of the charge of sexual abuse, as no such evidence could be found on the boy’s body due to its state of decomposition, as his death had taken place on 30th August.
But after lawyers from the Ministry of Family and Social Services protested that the sentences were too light, the higher court overturned the local court’s decision.
The 1st Penal Chamber of the Izmir Regional Court of Justice ordered that the boyfriend’s mobile phone be sent to the Criminal Division of the Gendarmerie Command for examination.
It has now been revealed that images found on the mobile phone provide evidence that young Eymen was sexually abused.
It was also revealed that he was sold to different men for this purpose.
The 4th Specialisation Board of the Forensic Medicine Institute found that the victim’s mother was of sound mind and is therefore criminally liable.
The defendants are now expected to be tried for the crime of sexual abuse, though it is not yet clear when the next hearing will take place.
