Criminal Law
⚖️ English-Speaking Criminal Defense Lawyer in Istanbul, Turkey
Hayalioğlu & Partners (HP Law) provides elite criminal defense representation in Istanbul across all stages of criminal proceedings, including police interrogation, public prosecutor investigations, bail hearings, and high criminal court trials. We specialize in white-collar crime, financial fraud, cybercrime, extradition, and corporate criminal liability under the Turkish Penal Code.
Hayalioğlu & Partners provides expert legal representation and criminal defense services in Turkey with an accomplished team of trial attorneys and academic advisors. Our practice covers both victim representation and the defense of suspects and defendants before Turkish judicial authorities.
Our criminal defense practice encompasses accompanying clients during police and public prosecutor interrogations, attending bail and detention hearings, challenging arrest warrants, filing criminal complaints, and conducting internal corporate fraud investigations. We conduct rigorous legal assessments to evaluate internal controls and deliver preventive criminal law counsel for corporate entities.
In today’s complex economic landscape, our specialized criminal trial team handles white-collar and financial crimes, including Aggravated Fraud, Fraudulent Bankruptcy, Violations of Capital Markets Law (manipulation/insider trading), Banking Embezzlement, Bid Rigging, and Bribery. We coordinate multidisciplinary actions to recover client losses and secure justice before Turkish judicial authorities.
Large enterprises face frequent information and document requests from official authorities due to their scale and high employment. HP Law is experienced in managing regulatory inquiries and responding to official requests without exposing corporate executives to criminal liability.
Furthermore, our team possesses extensive experience in Execution and Penitentiary Law, safeguarding client rights and pursuing the most favorable execution regime, probation, and parole mechanisms. Alongside our defense attorneys, our academic advisory panel provides authoritative expert legal opinions (mütalaa) on complex criminal jurisprudence.
Criminal Law Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can a foreign national be detained and tried under Turkish criminal law?
Yes. Under the territoriality principle of Turkish Penal Code (Art. 8), anyone who commits an offense within Turkish jurisdiction, regardless of nationality, is subject to Turkish criminal laws. Foreign suspects have the statutory right to an attorney and a certified interpreter.
What are the legal time limits for detention and arrest in Turkey?
Police detention is generally limited to 24 hours, extendable up to 4 days for collective crimes. Pre-trial detention (tutuklama) requires a formal hearing before a Peace Criminal Judge (Sulh Ceza Hâkimliği) and must be reviewed every 30 days.
How can a foreign individual appeal an arrest or detention order in Istanbul?
Under Article 268 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CMK), an appeal against a detention order must be submitted within seven (7) days of notification to the court that rendered the decision, which will be forwarded to the higher Criminal Court.
How does criminal extradition (return) operate in Turkey?
Extradition in Turkey is governed by Law No. 6706 on International Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters. Requests are evaluated by the competent High Criminal Court (Ağır Ceza Mahkemesi) and subject to final approval by the Ministry of Justice and the President.