Criminal Lawyer in Ankara

What does a criminal lawyer do during the investigation stage?

The investigation begins when the public prosecutor’s office learns of a suspected offence and lasts until an indictment is issued or a decision of non-prosecution is made. The statements taken and the evidence gathered at this stage largely determine how the case develops.

The Code of Criminal Procedure (CMK) provides that suspects and defendants may have the assistance of defence counsel at every stage of the investigation and prosecution (CMK Art. 149). The main tasks of a criminal lawyer at this stage include:

• Attending statements taken by the police and the prosecutor, and questioning before the criminal judgeship of peace
• Using the available remedies to object to custody, pre-trial detention and judicial control decisions
• Asking the prosecutor’s office to collect evidence in the suspect’s favour
• Preparing criminal complaints on behalf of victims or complainants and objecting to decisions of non-prosecution

The trial stage of a criminal case: how is the defence prepared?

The trial stage begins once the court accepts the indictment. The entire case file is reviewed, and witness statements, expert reports, camera footage and digital evidence are assessed for lawfulness and reliability.

At the hearings, the defence is presented, witnesses are questioned and submissions are made in response to the prosecutor’s final opinion on the merits. The conditions for deferral of the announcement of the verdict (HAGB), alternative sanctions and suspension of the sentence are also addressed separately, depending on the case.

What are the rights of victims and complainants in criminal proceedings?

A person harmed by an offence has the right to file a complaint, submit evidence and join the public prosecution as an intervening party. Under the Turkish Criminal Code (TCK) Art. 73, for offences prosecuted only upon complaint, the right to complain lapses if it is not exercised within six months of learning of the act and the identity of the offender.

When representing a victim, the aim is to ensure that evidence is presented in time, that a request to join the proceedings is made and that remedies against decisions are used within the deadlines. A separate compensation lawsuit may also be filed before the civil courts to recover the damage caused by the offence.

Remedies in criminal cases: objection, appeal (istinaf) and cassation (temyiz)

Decisions of judges may be challenged by objection, while judgments may be challenged by appeal (istinaf) and cassation appeal (temyiz). These remedies are subject to short, strict deadlines; the time limit starts when the decision is pronounced in the person’s presence or served, and missing it often cannot be remedied.

The appeal petition sets out, with concrete reasoning, the objections to the first-instance court’s assessment of the evidence, its legal characterisation of the act and its determination of the sentence.

Which types of offences does a criminal lawyer in Ankara handle?

In criminal law, individuals and companies receive legal support in the following areas:

• Offences against persons: intentional injury, threats, insult, blackmail
• Offences against property: theft, fraud, breach of trust
• Offences committed through information systems (cybercrime)
• Narcotic or stimulant drug offences
• Negligent injury and negligent homicide, endangering traffic safety
• Offences under the Cheque Law and economic crimes

Which court hears a criminal case in Ankara?

As a rule, jurisdiction over a criminal case lies with the court of the place where the offence was committed (CMK Art. 12). For an offence allegedly committed in Ankara, the investigation is conducted by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, and the trial is heard by the criminal courts of first instance or the high criminal courts in Ankara, depending on the nature of the offence.

If the place where the offence was committed is unknown, the court of the place where the suspect was apprehended or where they reside may have jurisdiction. Which court will hear the case should be determined at the outset, as it affects the timing of the defence and the follow-up of hearings.

Why is early legal support important in a criminal case?

In a criminal case, time is the most valuable resource. The content of the first statement, the preservation of evidence and the tracking of objection deadlines directly affect every later stage. For this reason, obtaining a legal assessment as soon as you become aware of an investigation is the first step towards building a sound defence.