⚖️ Criminal Law

Defense and legal support in criminal investigations, criminal cases, detention and judicial control processes.

Criminal law is one of the most sensitive areas of law, as its consequences can directly affect a person's liberty, reputation, property and other fundamental rights. It is of great importance for individuals facing a criminal investigation or prosecution to obtain legal support from a criminal defense lawyer who understands their rights and can defend them effectively from the very first stage of the process.

Our firm provides legal consultancy and attorney services in the field of criminal law, particularly in criminal investigations, criminal cases, criminal complaints and reports, statement-taking and interrogation procedures, pre-trial detention and judicial control measures, and appellate and cassation applications.

Since every criminal case file has its own particular circumstances, the legal strategy is formed by evaluating together the nature of the incident, the available evidence, the status of the parties, and the stage the investigation or prosecution has reached.

What Is Criminal Law?

Criminal law is the branch of law that regulates which acts constitute a crime, the sanctions that may be imposed for such crimes, and the rights of persons facing a criminal accusation within criminal proceedings.

One of the fundamental aims of criminal law is to determine the responsibility of a person alleged to have committed a crime through a lawful and fair trial. For this reason, fundamental principles such as the presumption of innocence, the principle that doubt benefits the defendant, the right to defense, the inadmissibility of unlawfully obtained evidence, and the right to a fair trial carry great importance during investigation and prosecution processes.

Since every step taken from the beginning of a criminal investigation may affect the legal process in later stages, obtaining legal support is important, particularly with respect to giving statements, preparing a defense, submitting evidence, and objecting to protective measures.

Our Criminal Law Services

1. Representation in Criminal Investigations

A criminal investigation is the process conducted by the Office of the Chief Public Prosecutor upon the emergence of a suspicion that an offense has been committed, during which it is assessed whether a public prosecution should be initiated. The legal steps taken during the investigation stage on behalf of the suspect or the victim may be significant for the course of any criminal case that may subsequently be filed. In this context, our office provides legal assistance regarding:

  • Review of the investigation file
  • Assessment of the legal position of the person as a suspect or complainant
  • Legal assistance during statement-taking and interrogation procedures
  • Preparation of the defense
  • Collection and evaluation of evidence
  • Legal assessment of witnesses and other evidence
  • Preparation of criminal complaints and reports
  • Objections against decisions of non-prosecution
  • Applications against pre-trial detention and judicial control orders

Attorney services are provided in relation to the matters listed above.

2. Criminal Cases

A criminal case is the trial process that begins with the filing of a public prosecution and is conducted by the court. In a criminal trial, it is necessary to evaluate not only the offense charged, but also how the incident occurred, the intent or negligence of the defendant, the manner in which the evidence was obtained, witness testimony, expert reports and all other evidence together. In criminal cases, our office provides:

  • Detailed review of the case file
  • Formulation of the defense strategy
  • Attendance at hearings
  • Evaluation of evidence and witnesses
  • Submitting statements against expert reports
  • Preparing a defense against the prosecutor's opinion on the merits
  • Requesting acquittal and other favorable decisions
  • Preparing appeals against court decisions

and other similar legal services.

3. Pre-Trial Detention and Judicial Control Measures

Pre-trial detention is a severe protective measure that directly restricts a person's liberty. For this reason, whether the conditions for detention exist must be assessed within the framework of the specific circumstances of the case. In this context:

  • Objection to detention orders
  • Review of the continuation of detention
  • Requests for release
  • Objections to judicial control orders
  • Applications for the lifting or modification of judicial control measures

legal support is provided regarding the above matters.

4. Complaints and Criminal Reports

Persons who are victims of a crime may file a complaint or report with the Office of the Chief Public Prosecutor or the relevant law enforcement units, depending on the circumstances of the incident. Preparing a complaint or criminal report correctly from a legal standpoint is important in order to clearly present the incident, assess the elements of the offense, and submit the available evidence to the investigating authorities. Our office provides legal services to clients acting as victims or complainants, including the preparation of complaint and report petitions, identification and submission of evidence, follow-up of the investigation process, and objections against decisions of non-prosecution.

Principal Offenses We Handle in Criminal Law

Legal support is provided during investigation and prosecution processes relating to offenses of various kinds within the scope of criminal law.

Offenses Against Persons

  • Intentional homicide, homicide by negligence
  • Intentional injury, injury by negligence
  • Threats, blackmail, insult
  • Disturbing the peace and tranquility of persons
  • Violation of the privacy of private life
  • Unlawful acquisition or dissemination of personal data
  • Offenses against sexual inviolability

Offenses Against Property

  • Theft, robbery
  • Breach of trust
  • Fraud, aggravated fraud
  • Damage to property, unauthorized benefit without payment
  • Trespass and related property offenses

Offenses Against Public Order and Other Legal Interests

  • Drug and narcotic substance offenses
  • Forgery of official and private documents
  • Organized crime offenses
  • Bid rigging and rigging the performance of an obligation
  • Bribery, embezzlement, misuse of duty
  • Offenses committed against public officials
  • Offenses committed through information systems
  • Tax and economic offenses

As the applicable provisions and procedural rules may vary depending on the nature of the offense, each case must be evaluated separately.

Cybercrime and Internet Offenses

With the advancement of technology, investigations into offenses alleged to have been committed through social media, the internet and information systems have also become significant. Social media posts, messaging applications, electronic correspondence, digital data and records within information systems may arise as evidence in criminal investigations. In this field, legal support is provided regarding insult and threats made via social media, fraud committed over the internet, offenses committed through the use of information systems, unlawful sharing of personal data, violation of the privacy of private life, and the evaluation of digital evidence.

Economic and Commercial Offenses

Certain disputes arising within the scope of commercial activities may also give rise to consequences under criminal law. In particular, company managers, partners, employees and persons engaged in commercial activity may face serious legal risks from criminal investigations. In investigations and cases concerning breach of trust, fraud, forgery of documents, embezzlement, misuse of duty, tax offenses and similar offenses arising within the scope of company activities, both the commercial and legal dimensions of the file are evaluated together.

Legal Remedies in Criminal Law

Decisions rendered by the court of first instance in criminal proceedings are not always the final stage of the trial. Where the conditions provided by law are met, the relevant legal remedies may be pursued against court decisions. Depending on the nature of the case, legal support is provided regarding:

  • Appeal to the regional court of appeals
  • Application for cassation before the Court of Cassation
  • Legal review of the decision
  • Preparation of petitions for legal remedies
  • Assessment of the extraordinary legal remedies provided by law with respect to finalized decisions

legal support is provided on the above matters.

Why Is a Lawyer Important During a Criminal Investigation?

A criminal investigation is often a process in which a person's legal situation has not yet been finalized, but important rights and freedoms are at stake. In particular, it is important to assess the legal situation before giving a statement, to understand the legal nature of the alleged act, to examine the available evidence, and to prepare the defense accordingly. Early review of the file by a criminal defense lawyer can contribute to properly formulating the defense, preventing loss of rights, effectively evaluating the evidence, making procedural objections in a timely manner, and pursuing the necessary applications against protective measures.

The Right to Defense in Criminal Law

One of the fundamental elements of criminal proceedings is the right to defense. The ability of a person accused of a crime to defend themselves, to understand the nature of the accusation, and to receive legal assistance are among the essential elements of a fair trial. Defense is important not only at the trial stage but from the earliest stages of the investigation. For this reason, where possible, assessing one's legal situation before giving a statement, before facing detention or judicial control measures, or before a criminal case is filed can provide a significant advantage.

Our Legal Approach in Criminal Proceedings

Every criminal law file has its own particular circumstances. For this reason, rather than a ready-made, one-size-fits-all defense method, it is essential to review the entire file and to develop a legal strategy suited to the specific circumstances of the case.

  • File Review: The information and documents in the investigation or prosecution file are examined in detail.
  • Legal Classification: The elements of the alleged act under the law and its relationship to the specific case are assessed.
  • Evidence Analysis: Evidence both for and against are examined together; the lawfulness of the evidence and its probative value are assessed.
  • Defense Strategy: The key points of the defense are determined according to the particular features of the file.
  • Process Follow-Up: The necessary legal steps are followed throughout the investigation, prosecution and legal remedy stages.

Frequently Asked Questions

An investigation has been opened against me. What should I do?

When you learn that a criminal investigation has been opened against you, it is important, first of all, to find out the nature of the alleged act and the scope of the investigation. In particular, if you are summoned to give a statement, obtaining legal support from a criminal defense lawyer before the statement is taken can help ensure that your right to defense is exercised effectively.

Can I retain a lawyer before giving a statement?

Yes. A suspect has the right to benefit from the assistance of defense counsel within the framework provided by law. Assessing the legal situation and preparing the defense before the statement is taken can be important for the process to proceed properly.

A detention order has been issued against me. What can be done?

The conditions of the detention order and the particular features of the file can be examined, and the objection and release remedies provided by law can be assessed. Whether the state of detention should continue is evaluated by the relevant judicial authorities based on the specific circumstances of the file.

Is acquittal possible in a criminal case?

At the conclusion of criminal proceedings, an acquittal may be rendered if it cannot be established, through legally valid and sufficient evidence, that the defendant committed the alleged offense, or if the other conditions provided by law are met. The likelihood of acquittal in each file must be assessed separately based on the specific case and the evidence.

How long does a criminal case take?

The duration of criminal cases depends on many factors, such as the nature of the offense, the scope of the file, the number of defendants and victims, the process of gathering evidence, expert examinations, and the legal remedies pursued. For this reason, it is not possible to predict an exact time frame for any given file.

Consultation with a Criminal Law Attorney

If you are facing a criminal investigation or case, it is important to understand which stage of the process you are in and what legal rights you have. If you need legal support regarding a criminal investigation, a criminal case, detention, judicial control, complaints, criminal reports, statement-taking procedures or legal remedies, you may contact us so that the particular features of your file can be assessed. Every criminal file is evaluated within its own circumstances; the legal remedies available, the existing evidence and the defense strategy to be pursued are determined based on the specific case.