The family of a young man with a 94% autism report filed a complaint when they alleged that a caregiver at a residential special center in Mersin had assaulted him. In the initial trial, the prosecutor requested the release of the accused appearing before the judge for the charge of “simple injury”.
Following the instructions of Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, the Ministry intervened in the case. The Ministry requested that the caregiver be tried for the crime of “torture” rather than “simple injury”, and also requested the person’s arrest.
During the final trial, the court sentenced the caregiver to 8 months for injury, which was increased to 12 months due to the victim’s inability to defend himself physically and mentally. Despite no reduction in the sentence, the request for punishment for the crime of “torture” was rejected on the grounds that the necessary conditions were not met.
Subsequently, it was reported that the Ministry found the sentence inadequate and would appeal the decision to a higher court. The family is seeking justice for their son and hopes that the accused caregiver will be held accountable for their actions. The Ministry’s involvement in the case highlights the importance of protecting vulnerable individuals and ensuring that perpetrators of abuse are punished accordingly. The outcome of the appeal will be closely watched as a test of the legal system’s ability to deliver justice in cases of abuse against individuals with special needs.
