Turkish teacher sentenced to 508 years in prison for sexually abusing ten children

A Turkish teacher who worked at a charitable institution has been sentenced to more than 508 years of strict imprisonment for sexually abusing ten children, the pro-government agency Anadolu reported, according to the Patria news agency. 

Muharem Buyukturk (54), the teacher, admitted to sexually abusing ten boys aged 12 to 14 between 2012 and 2015, to whom he gave private lessons. He was also accused of showing pornographic images to his victims, which he denied in court in Karaman, southern Turkey, where he was sentenced to 508 years and 3 months in prison.

The prosecutor sought a sentence of nearly 600 years in prison at the trial, which was closed to the public, began on Wednesday morning and ended late in the afternoon.

Buyukturk was arrested on March 13 following several complaints from families of child abuse. The case caused a major uproar, as well as a political scandal. The opposition leader accused the Minister of Family and Social Policy, Sema Ramazanoğlu, of defending the religious foundation for which the accused teacher worked, Index reports.