Former mayoral candidate sentenced to life imprisonment

Former mayoral candidate sentenced to life imprisonment

In Antalya, a fight over a debt resulted in the death of 70-year-old Hamit Sunbat. A verdict has been reached in the case concerning the armed conflict. Durmuş Ali Arslan, the former mayoral candidate for Aksu Municipality, who was tried while in custody, was sentenced to life imprisonment.

The incident occurred on April 18, 2025, at approximately 1:00 PM in a workplace on Şahinler Street in the Fatih neighborhood of Aksu district, Antalya. Durmuş Ali Arslan, a former mayoral candidate for Aksu Municipality from the Millet Alliance and a former Deputy Secretary General of Antalya Metropolitan Municipality, went to the workplace to meet with Sebahattin Sunbat, to whom he owed money. During the argument that ensued, Sebahattin Sunbat's father, Hamit Sunbat (70), was shot and seriously wounded. Sunbat, who was taken to Antalya Training and Research Hospital by paramedics dispatched to the scene, could not be saved despite all efforts and died four days later. Arslan was arrested after the incident and subsequently remanded in custody by the court. The defendant was charged with "intentional homicide," "attempted homicide," "threatening with a weapon," and "possession of an unlicensed weapon."

THE COURT ANNOUNCED ITS VERDICT

Following the statements of the lawyers for both sides, the court panel announced its decision, sentencing the defendant Durmuş Ali Arslan to life imprisonment for the intentional homicide of Hamit Sunbat. The panel sentenced the defendant to 10 years imprisonment for the attempted intentional homicide of Sebahattin Sunbat, while converting the 6-month prison sentence for threatening Tamer Ertürk into an 18,000 TL fine. The court also sentenced Arslan to 2 years and 6 months imprisonment and a 250-day fine for carrying an unlicensed handgun.