Unabashedly Defiant: Ex-Senator Dilek Kalayci Challenges Bribery Conviction
- *
- Ex-Senator Kalayci denies verdict passed against him
In a bold stance, Berlin's former health senator Dilek Kalayci (SPD) has hurled herself into the fray against her bribery conviction. As reported, her legal eagles have lodged an appeal against the Regional Court of Berlin's verdict. "Mrs. Kalayci has consistently maintained, and reasserts emphatically, that her entire political career has been unmarred by corruption, including in this very case," her lawyer's statement asserts.
In a dramatic turn of events on Friday, the regional court sentenced Kalayci for her wedding party expenses to a suspended sentence of one and a half years. The 58-year-old risks losing her retirement benefits as a parliamenarian and senator if the conviction stands.
The court found the advertising agency head guilty of bribery and sentenced him to a suspended sentence of one year and three months.
The court also ordered the seizure of €6,242 from Kalayci and €9,450 from the advertiser.
Defiant Until the End
The court largely concurred with the prosecution's arguments. Both defendants remained steadfast in their innocence till the end. Their lawyers had each demanded acquittal. The advertising agency boss also vowed to appeal the verdict.
According to the court, the costs associated with the wedding party organization and celebration were not invoiced to the former senator because the agency head expected favors in return. Particularly, it pertained to the award of the health administration's advertising contract for attracting young people to nursing care.
- Dilek Kalayci
- Bribery Suspect
- Conviction
- Berlin
- SPD
- Corruption Scandal
- Wedding Party
- Mrs.
- Dilek Kalayci, the former health senator from Berlin, has filed an appeal against her bribery conviction, stressing her innocence and maintaining that her political career has been free of corruption.
- On Friday, the Regional Court of Berlin sentenced Kalayci to a suspended sentence of one and a half years, with the potential loss of her retirement benefits if the conviction stands.
- The court also ordered the seizure of €6,242 from Kalayci and €9,450 from the advertiser involved in the case, with both defendants remaining steadfast in their innocence despite the verdict.
