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A Turkish court ruled on Tuesday that 87-year-old business figure Inan Kirac lacks the legal competence to make decisions for himself, following a high-profile legal dispute initiated by his daughter over his recent marriage.
The decision came after the court received a report from the Council of Forensic Medicine stating that Kirac was no longer legally competent, recommending the appointment of a guardian.
The ruling was issued as part of an ongoing lawsuit filed by Kirac’s daughter, Ipek Kirac, who has contested the validity of his December 20, 2024, marriage to Emine Alangoya on the grounds of diminished mental capacity.
In an earlier session, the court had ordered that Kirac undergo neurological evaluation at the Specialization Board of the Council of Forensic Medicine. After a series of tests, the board found that he lacked the ability to make legally valid decisions. In line with this assessment, the court ruled to revoke his legal competence.
Kirac’s court-appointed guardians, attorneys Atakan Yilmaz and Mert Oztekin, issued a statement expressing concern for his safety outside the courthouse following the hearing. They noted that a restraining order had been issued, prohibiting Emine Alangoya from approaching Kirac or his residence.
According to multiple Turkish media outlets, Kirac was reportedly abducted late on May 22 while undergoing a medical check-up at Koc Hospital in Istanbul’s Zeytinburnu district. He was allegedly taken by unidentified individuals from the custody of his legal guardians during his stay at the facility.
As part of the ongoing investigation into the incident, three individuals were taken into custody.
The guardians confirmed that during a hospital visit, they witnessed an attempt to remove Kirac from the premises without their consent. A group of unidentified individuals reportedly tried to escort him toward a waiting private vehicle at the hospital’s exit. Despite their objections, Kirac was taken from the hospital, and the incident was immediately reported to law enforcement authorities.
Inan Kirac is one of Türkiye’s most prominent industrialists, who chairs Turkish automaker Karsan. He served as a longtime executive within Koc Holding, one of the country’s largest and most influential conglomerates, and later played a central role in the establishment of Karsan.
The court adjourned the next hearing to July 4 to address remaining procedural matters.
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