US court orders continued detention of Turkish author Eylem Tok

A court in Boston ruled on Monday that Eylem Tok, a Turkish author who fled to the United States with her son following a fatal traffic accident in Istanbul, will remain in custody pending an extradition hearing back to Türkiye.

Lawyers for the U.S. government argued that Tok had tampered with evidence and looted in the aftermath of the accident. Following these allegations, the judge asked Tok’s lawyers if they needed additional time to prepare, according to a Turkish lawyer’s statement on X (formerly Twitter).

The judge announced that a bail hearing will be held next week for Tok’s son, Timur Cihantimur.

On March 1, Cihantimur, driving his parents’ SUV without a license, crashed into three ATVs that had stopped in Istanbul’s Eyup Sultan district, injuring five people. One of the injured, Oguz Murat Aci, later died from his injuries.

Cihantimur left the accident scene with his mother in her vehicle, and they subsequently fled to Egypt and then the United States.

After the Turkish Justice Ministry forwarded documents requesting their extradition to US authorities, Tok and her son were located and detained.

Key developments

• Boston Court Ruling: Eylem Tok to remain in custody pending extradition hearing.
• Extradition Request: Following a fatal accident in Istanbul, Tok and her son fled to the U.S.
• Allegations: U.S government lawyers allege evidence tampering and looting.
• Upcoming Bail Hearing: A bail hearing for Tok’s son, Timur Cihantimur, is set for next week.
• Incident Details: Cihantimur, without a license, crashed into three ATVs, resulting in one death.