Thodex Profiteer Faruk Fatih Özer Has Been Released! But he will remain in detention: Here are the details! - Coin Newsletter

Founder of the cryptocurrency exchange Thodex, Faruk Fatih Özer, was released on charges of "forming a criminal organization," while his detention was extended due to charges of fraud.

A critical development occurred in the trial of Faruk Fatih Özer, the founder of the cryptocurrency exchange Thodex. Özer, who was released on charges of "establishing and leading an organization with the intention of committing a crime," will continue to be held on charges of "aggravated fraud."

Faruk Fatih Özer, who was captured in Albania on August 30, 2022, and extradited to Turkey on April 20, 2023, is accused of defrauding thousands of people through Thodex. Özer, who was previously sentenced to 11,196 years, 10 months, and 15 days in prison, appeared before a judge in Istanbul today. During the trial, he was released on bail for the accusation of “establishing an organization to commit a crime”, while his detention was ordered to continue for the accusation of “committing fraud by using information systems, banks, or credit institutions as a tool”.

Statement from the lawyer

Faruk Fatih Özer's family lawyer Sevgi Erarslan made a statement regarding the court decision. Erarslan stated that the trial process is still ongoing and emphasized that everyone should be presumed innocent until proven guilty by a final court decision.

In the Thodex case, which is closely followed by the public, it has become necessary to make a statement regarding the latest decisions made by the court. According to the universal principles of law, everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a final court decision. The presumption of innocence is one of the fundamental pillars of a democratic state governed by the rule of law, ensuring the protection of the rights of the suspect and the defendant during the trial process.

In the trial process regarding our clients, while the court decided to continue the detention regarding the fraud charges, it has decided to release them on the grounds of the organized crime offense. This decision once again demonstrates the dynamic nature of the trial process and the need for independent evaluation of each crime allegation. Especially the release decision regarding the organized crime accusation is an important legal development that shows our clients are not involved in an organized criminal organization.

The right to a fair trial is indispensable for everyone, in accordance with the principle of the rule of law. Comments and preconceptions made before the completion of the trial not only undermine confidence in the judiciary, but also harm individuals' fundamental rights. It should be remembered that no person can be declared guilty before the judicial process reaches a final decision. We would like to emphasize that we will pursue all legal avenues to protect the rights of our clients and ensure a fair trial process, and we will continue to provide accurate information to the public for the transparent progress of the process.

The lawyer argued that the release decision, especially from the organization charge, indicates that Ozer is not involved in an organized crime structure. The statement emphasized that the right to a fair trial is valid for everyone and that giving definitive judgments before the court process is completed is damaging to the law.