149-year sentence for Turkish teen draws emotional reaction from judge
149-year prison sentence for a young offender in Türkiye draws emotional comments from Judge Defne Bulbul. (Adobe Stock Photo)
A 17-year-old in Izmir has received a 149-year, 200-month and 705-day prison sentence for committing 70 crimes, including theft and aggravated theft.
Judge Defne Bulbul, a member of the Izmir Regional Court of Justice, expressed her profound sadness after reviewing the Turkish teen’s case. She shared her feelings on social media, writing, “A darkness settled over my heart. Oh, child …”
Details of Turkish teen’s extensive sentence
The young defendant committed thefts in 2019, 2020, and 2022 under Articles 142/1 and 142/2 of the Turkish Penal Code. Courts sentenced him to over 149 years in prison.
The regional appeals court upheld the local court’s decision, confirming the long-term sentence. Judge Bulbul’s post emphasized the difficulty of seeing such severe cases involving young individuals.
The convict’s earliest potential release date is 2040, allowing for conditional release. If this does not occur, full release is set for 2076. This timeline shows the significant impact of lengthy sentences on juvenile offenders’ futures.
Turkish judge Defne Bulbul’s emotional response to young criminal’s conviction
Judge Bulbul shared her thoughts about the Turkish teen’s case, stating, “I stopped reading late at night; a darkness settled over my heart. A 17-year-old, convicted with a 149-year, 200-month, 705-day sentence. Full release: 2076. Oh, child …”
This post sparked conversations about the challenges in addressing youth crime and the criminal justice system’s role in handling cases involving repeat juvenile offenders.
The Turkish teen’s case has also drawn attention to the complexities surrounding legal and social measures in Türkiye when dealing with young people involved in extensive criminal activity.
