An undocumented Turkish migrant has been charged with the rape and kidnapping of a teenage girl in upstate New York.
Sakir Akkan, 21, was arrested last week for the May 14 assault of a 15-year-old girl in Albany.
The attack occurred shortly after midnight when Akkan approached the victim in a green Toyota Prius, got out and threatened her with a metal pole, according to the The Times Union.
Akkan is a Turkish migrant who illegally crossed the San Diego border seven months ago. Critics have criticized the police department for failing to notify the public about the attack.
“To be perfectly clear, neither I nor anyone else in the police administration had any idea of the immigration status of the defendant in this case until after he was arrested and arraigned on the charges,” Albany Police Chief Eric Hawkins said. WRGB.
Sakir Akkan (pictured), 21, a Turkish migrant who entered the country illegally, was charged with the brutal rape of a 15-year-old girl in Albany.
‘Immigration status was simply not a factor in the press release’s decision and any insinuation otherwise is completely inaccurate.
‘It is the Albany Police Department’s standard practice that information about sexual assaults is not released via press release to avoid further trauma to the victim, unless there are other extenuating circumstances, such as if the situation poses an imminent threat to the public. The Albany Police Department determined that there were none.’
The teenager had left her group home on New Scotland Avenue when Akkan allegedly approached her.
He forced her into his car, threatening to beat her, and drove off to an isolated area near South Pearl Street, police say.
Critics have criticized the police department for failing to notify the public about the attack, but Albany Police Chief Eric Hawkins (pictured) said it is standard practice.
Akkan allegedly pushed her into the back seat and raped her, and police reports indicate she suffered scratches on her legs in self-defense.
Surveillance footage captured a man, believed to be Akkan, letting the girl out of the car and then driving away after the sexual assault.
He was not arrested until a month later and is currently being held in the Albany County Jail on a $25,000 cash bond, a $50,000 bond or a $75,000 partial bond.
Akkan’s defense attorney, George LaMarche, said The New York Post His client will not be able to post bail because an immigration detainer has been filed against him.
He was arrested in November for illegally crossing the border but was released on his own recognizance and given a court date for February 2025 in Philadelphia.
Akkan is currently being held in the Albany County Jail (pictured) on $25,000 cash bail, but his attorney said the feds have issued an immigration detainer against him.
Locals have criticized the police department for not releasing a statement about the attack or Akkan’s arrest and his immigration status.
“A 15-year-old girl was raped by an ILLEGAL ALIEN in the city of Albany and the public was not notified? We are supposed to believe that the city administration did not cover this up? Damn it!” Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin said on X.
“Albany County has joined the growing list of local municipalities with significant violent crimes committed by individuals who are in our country illegally,” said Albany County Legislator Frank Mauriello.
“Attempts by local authorities to hide these heinous crimes and the suspects’ immigration status from the public for weeks only make matters worse.”
