Prosecution for Books about Dink Murder

Up to now, 3 cases have been opened against Milliyet newspaper journalist Nedim Şener on the grounds of his book "The Dink Murder and the Lies of the Intelligence". Şener faces prison sentence of up to 32 years 6 months in total. The next hearing takes place tomorrow (16 December) at the Istanbul 11^th High Criminal Court.

The court is waiting for a reply from the Istanbul 14^th High Criminal Court in order to confirm whether the drawings and documents Şener used for his book indeed stem from the Hrant Dink murder file.

Turkish-Armenian journalist and Agos newspaper editor-in-chief Hrant Dink was assassinated on 19 January 2007 in front of the newspaper's office in Şişli, central Istanbul.

Şener faces more than 3 decades in prison

Apart from Ramazan Akyürek, who was deposed from office in October, the complainants are Intelligence Office Presidency police officer Muhittin Zenit, Trabzon Intelligence Branch Manager Fatih Sarı and Istanbul Police Deputy Chief Ali Fuat Yılmazer. In the latest hearing Şener argued that the Prime Ministry Inspection Board also accused Yılmazer. The defendant claimed that Yılmazer's situation should be reconsidered, referring to Ramazan Akyürkek's removal from office.

Şener is facing prison sentence of up to 20 years under charges of "targeting people on duty for the struggle against terrorism, providing confidential information and attempting to influence a fair trial".

Another court hearing on 22 December

Upon the complaint of Akyürek, Yılmazer, Sarı and Zenit the Bakırköy (Istanbul) 2^nd Criminal Court of First Instance tries Şener for an 8 years prison sentence on the grounds of publishing a schema. The case is to be continued on 22 December.

A third case has been opened against Şener for the reason that the book includes a schema concerning the telephone communication traffic between defendants of the Hrant Dink case and of the Ergenekon case. This case is tried before the Bakırköy 2^nd Criminal Court of First Instance; Şener is facing another 4 years 6 months prison sentence.

Akyürek demands prison sentence for journalist Göktaş too

Vatan newspaper journalist Kemal Göktaş is on trial as well for his book regarding the Hrant Dink murder. The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office opened a case against the journalist on the basis of his book entitled "The Hrant Dink Muder: Media, Judiciary, State".

Göktaş is sued under charges of "publishing confidential documents" because of his statement regarding Erhan Tuncel who is tried in the scope of the case against Akyürek for talking people into the murder. Göktaş had indicated that Tuncel was a secret informant and that he did not put any efforts into preventing the murder from happening.

The trial against Göktaş will start on 15 February 2010 at the Istanbul 2^nd Criminal Court of First Instance. (EÖ/VK)