Criminal Defence Lawyer in Bursa

Facing a criminal accusation, or becoming the victim of a crime, marks one of the most vulnerable periods in a person’s life in terms of liberty, assets and professional future. The consequences of each step taken in this process are often difficult to reverse. At Neka Legal, we handle criminal matters with a defence approach designed for each case, standing by our client at every stage from the first moment of the investigation to the execution of the sentence. We also represent foreign nationals facing investigations in Türkiye.

At which stages and in what capacity do we represent clients?

We represent clients who are suspects, defendants, victims or intervening parties before the high criminal courts, criminal courts of first instance and juvenile courts, and before the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. In the investigation stage, our core services are acting as defence counsel during statements and interrogation, reviewing the lawfulness of custody and search operations, and objecting to detention and judicial control orders; in the prosecution stage, designing the defence strategy, managing evidence and witnesses, and filing appeals.

We act both as defence counsel and as counsel for victims and intervening parties across a broad range, from offences against persons and property to economic and cyber crimes, drug and traffic offences, sexual offences and juvenile criminal law. In every file, we carefully assess institutions that may lead to a favourable outcome for our client, such as the deferral of the announcement of the verdict (HAGB), suspension of sentence and alternative sanctions, and we ensure that acquired rights are protected.

How does criminal procedure work in Türkiye?

Criminal procedure consists of two stages: the investigation, conducted by the prosecutor’s office, and the prosecution, conducted by the court. The rights of the suspect or defendant and the steps that can be taken differ at each stage.

1. Report or complaint: The offence is reported to the police or the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, or the prosecutor acts on their own initiative.
2. Investigation: The prosecutor collects evidence; the suspect and witnesses are heard, and searches, seizures and expert examinations are carried out where necessary.
3. Prosecutor’s decision: If there is insufficient suspicion, a decision of non-prosecution is made; if there is sufficient suspicion, an indictment is drawn up.
4. Review of the indictment: The court reviews the indictment within fifteen days; if it does not return it, the indictment is deemed accepted and the prosecution begins (Code of Criminal Procedure, CMK, Art. 174).
5. Trial and judgment: The evidence is discussed at hearings, the defence is heard and the court delivers its judgment.
6. Appeals: The judgment can be appealed to the regional court of appeal (istinaf), and in certain cases an appeal on points of law (temyiz) can be made against its decision.

I have been summoned to give a statement. What should I do?

When you receive a summons from the police or the prosecutor’s office, it is advisable to consult a lawyer before giving your statement. The suspect has the right to the assistance of defence counsel and the right to remain silent at every stage of questioning and interrogation (CMK, Art. 147). The first statement often determines the subsequent course of the file.

In some cases, the presence of defence counsel is mandatory: where the suspect or defendant is a child, is disabled to the extent of being unable to defend themselves, or the offence charged carries a minimum sentence of more than five years’ imprisonment (CMK, Art. 150). In these cases, if they have no lawyer, one is appointed by the bar association.

Rights of foreign suspects and defendants

A suspect or defendant who does not speak sufficient Turkish has the right to the free assistance of an interpreter during questioning and at hearings (CMK, Art. 202). Foreign nationals may also ask for their consulate to be informed of their arrest. An investigation in Türkiye can also affect residence status and lead to an entry ban or deportation, so the criminal case and the foreigners law aspects should be handled together; see our international law page.

How long can police custody last?

Police custody lasts, as a rule, 24 hours from the moment of arrest, not counting the time needed to bring the arrested person before the nearest judge or court. For offences committed collectively, the period can be extended by written order of the public prosecutor (CMK, Art. 91). A person in custody can apply to the criminal judgeship of peace against the custody decision.

How can detention and judicial control orders be challenged?

Detention, judicial control, search and seizure orders of the criminal judgeship of peace can be challenged by objection. The objection must be made within seven days of learning of the decision (CMK, Art. 268). A detained person can also request release at any stage of the investigation and prosecution.

An application against custody can be made to the criminal judgeship of peace during the custody period. Detention, judicial control, search and seizure orders can be challenged within seven days. The deadline for objecting to a decision of non-prosecution is fifteen days. A judgment of the court of first instance can be appealed to the regional court of appeal from its pronouncement or service.

Appeal deadlines are short. If a deadline is missed, the decision becomes final. We recommend obtaining legal advice on the day you learn of the decision.

What are judicial control measures?

Judicial control consists of measures that can be applied instead of detention and restrict a person’s liberty to a more limited extent (CMK, Art. 109). Even where the conditions for detention exist, these measures must be ordered instead of detention if judicial control would be sufficient. The most common judicial control measures in practice are:

• A ban on leaving the country
• An obligation to report and sign at a police or gendarmerie station on set days
• House arrest
• A ban on going to certain places or contacting certain people
• Payment of a security deposit
• Surrender of a firearms licence or driving licence

Judicial control orders can, like detention orders, be challenged within seven days. As a measure continues, its proportionality can be re-examined on request.

Common offences in Bursa

Each type of offence has its own elements, complaint requirements and favourable institutions that may apply.

In fraud (Turkish Criminal Code, TCK, Arts. 157–158), using information systems or banks as a tool is an aggravating circumstance, while compensating the damage can lead to a reduction for effective repentance (Art. 168). In cyber crimes (Arts. 243–245), unauthorised access to a system, corruption of data and misuse of bank or credit cards are separate offences, and the examination of digital evidence decides the outcome.

In drug offences (Arts. 188, 191), the distinction between possession for personal use and trafficking directly determines the sentence; possession for personal use is subject to treatment and probation. In negligent injury and death arising from traffic accidents (Arts. 85, 89), the degree of fault and the expert report are decisive; simple negligent injury is prosecuted only on complaint. The simple forms of injury and threat (Arts. 86, 106) are prosecuted on complaint and are subject to reconciliation; aggravated forms, such as those committed with a weapon, increase the sentence.

What are your rights if you are the victim of a crime?

Criminal procedure protects not only the suspect and defendant but also the person harmed by the offence. The victim can file a complaint, request that evidence be collected, object to a decision of non-prosecution and, in the prosecution stage, join the case and appeal against the judgment.

For offences prosecuted on complaint, the complaint period is six months from learning of the offender and the act (TCK, Art. 73). For children, victims of sexual assault and other cases listed in the law, counsel is appointed by the bar association with or without the victim’s request (CMK, Art. 234).

Do not miss the complaint deadline. For offences prosecuted on complaint, no investigation can be conducted once the six-month period has passed.

How long does a criminal case take?

The duration depends on the nature of the offence, witness and expert examinations and the court’s workload. Cases heard by the criminal courts of first instance often conclude within a few months to a year, while cases before the high criminal courts may take longer. Files with a detained defendant are given priority. The appeal stages are added to this period.

Which court hears criminal cases in Bursa?

In central Bursa (Nilüfer, Osmangazi, Yıldırım), investigations are conducted by the Bursa Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office and cases are heard by the criminal courts of first instance and high criminal courts at the Bursa Courthouse. Districts such as İnegöl, Gemlik and Mudanya have their own courthouses. Appeals against first-instance judgments are examined by the criminal chambers of the Bursa Regional Court of Appeal.

What can be done after a final judgment?

Once ordinary remedies are exhausted, we also handle individual applications to the Turkish Constitutional Court concerning violations of fundamental rights and, where necessary, applications to the European Court of Human Rights. We provide comprehensive legal support in the execution of sentences, probation and reconciliation processes, so that no rights are lost. You can see approximate execution periods with our sentence calculator (in Turkish).

Frequently asked questions

Can I give a statement without a lawyer?

You can; however, a statement is evidence that is difficult to change later. It is advisable to attend with a lawyer or to consult one beforehand.

What happens if I do not respond to a summons to give a statement?

If you do not comply with the summons, an order for compulsory appearance may be issued.

Can I hire a lawyer as a victim?

Yes. The victim and complainant can be represented by counsel in the investigation and prosecution, and can join the case as an intervening party in the prosecution.

What is victim-offender reconciliation (uzlaştırma)?

For certain offences listed in the law, it is an agreement between the suspect and the victim reached through a reconciliation officer; if reconciliation is achieved, a decision of non-prosecution may be made.

Can my lawyer examine the investigation file?

Defence counsel can examine the file during the investigation and take copies of documents. However, where this could endanger the purpose of the investigation, this right can be restricted by a judge’s order; statement records, expert reports and records of acts at which the suspect is entitled to be present are excluded from this restriction (Code of Criminal Procedure, Art. 153).

How are lawyers’ fees set in criminal cases?

The fee is set in writing at the first meeting according to the stage of the case, the nature of the offence, the number of hearings and whether the client is detained, and cannot be lower than the Minimum Attorney Fee Tariff.

Will my criminal record be deleted?

As a rule, after the sentence is executed and the statutory conditions are met, the record is moved to the archive and is deleted after certain periods have passed.

Responsible attorney: Kaan Kaplan

This page has been prepared for general information purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Last updated: 6 November 2026.