Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office has issued a new detention order for Burak Özkul, a suspect who was previously released on judicial control in connection to an incident where he kicked Dr. Orkun Aşık, a doctor at the City Hospital’s Orthopedics Department, on the head on May 10th. Özkul, who was taken into custody again, was referred to Istanbul Criminal Judgeship of Peace with a request for his arrest on charges of “intentional injury”.
The referral letter sent by the prosecution to the judiciary stated that a witness named R.D. testified on May 14th that the suspect kicked the doctor in the face. The letter also noted that the crime of “intentional injury against personnel working at healthcare facilities during their duties or duties-related activities” is among the catalogue crimes according to the Code of Criminal Procedure. It was mentioned in the letter that there are strong indications that the suspect committed the crime attributed to him.
Burak Özkul was arrested by the judiciary to which he was referred. The incident took place in Eyüpsultan on May 10th, when Enes Mehmet Özkul was injured in a motorcycle accident and taken to the City Hospital for treatment. A dispute between Burak Özkul, who was identified as a relative of the injured, and Dr. Orkun Aşık escalated in the orthopedics department’s red zone. The injured Enes Mehmet Özkul, who got up from the stretcher, also started fighting with the doctor and other people around him.
The fight was brought to an end by the intervention of security guards and hospital police. Enes Mehmet Özkul and Burak Özkul, who were involved in the altercation, were taken into custody and released with judicial control at the courthouse where they were referred. The ongoing dispute between the doctor and the family member of the injured patient highlights the ongoing tension and violence directed towards healthcare workers, demonstrating the need for further measures to protect medical personnel during the performance of their duties. It also emphasizes the importance of respecting and valuing the work of healthcare professionals in society.
