8th Trial for Journalist Saymaz - 70-year Sentence Impending

The eighth trial has been opened against Radikal newspaper reporter Ismail Saymaz on the grounds of his article entitled "Love games in Ergenekon - The Ergenekon prosecutor also took the judge's statement" published on 8 June.

The complaint for the latest trial was filed by the President of the Istanbul 13^th High Criminal Court, Köksal Şengün. The indictment was prepared for the prosecution before the Bakırköy (Istanbul) Criminal Court of First Instance.

The journalist had reported about the technical surveillance of Kadır Özbek, Deputy President of the Supreme Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK).

The article mentioned the inquiry report related to lawyer Tülay Bekar who was arrested in the last wave of arrests. It read that Bekar, as a result of her being directed by Oktay, allegedly dominated Court President Şengün by "making use out of her femininity and sexuality" and that she tried to make Şengün withdraw from the case or promote him to become a member of the Court of Appeals or to influence him on releasing some of the defendants.

The journalist is tried under allegations of "insult", "violation of the secrecy of an investigation" and the "attempt to influence a fair trial" according to articles 125, 285, and 288 respectively of the Turkish Criminal Law (TCK). The first hearing is scheduled for 28 January 2011.

Saymaz, who is following up the Ergenekon investigation and the related trials, had no less than seven trials opened against him before the latest complaint was filed. Under these circumstances, he is facing prison sentences of up to 70 years in total. The ultra-nationalist Ergenekon terror organization is charged with plotting to overthrow the government.

Saymaz is also tried under charges of "violating the secrecy of an investigation" in the context of the article entitled "The generals in their summer residences agree that Balbay is the left-wing leader" published on 19 March 2009. He is tried because he quoted Ergenekon defendant Engin Aydın's statement made to the prosecutor.

Tried for every word he wrote...

Engin had stated that Balbay was going to found a new political party. The existing Independent Republic Party was mentioned to join, or it was said to initiate a movement within the Republican People's Party, Engin said in his statement.

The prosecution against Saymaz according to article 285 of the TCK started on 3 June before the same court. The case against the daily's editor-in-chief, Hasan Çakkalkurt, was directed to Saymaz by reason of his "responsibility for the news".

Six cases were opened against Saymaz on the grounds of his news about the interrogations of İlhan Cihaner, detained Chief Public Prosecutor of Erzincan (north-eastern Anatolia), and İbrahim Şahin, former Deputy Head of the Special Operations Department.

Saymaz is facing imprisonment on the grounds of the articles entitled "What Prosecutor Cihaner was asked" published in Radikal newspaper on 18 February 2010, "Assassination with a tick, coup of the tea vendors" from 12 February 2010, "Cihaner: I do not know Çiçek, I did not see him - Ciçek: I do not know anybody in Erzincan" and "I do not know Çiçek, that is your set up" published on 20 February and for his article "Did you meet Dursun Çiçek?" from 22 February.

Another reason for the prosecution of Saymaz was the article entitled "The most reckless state of Ergenekon is in Erzincan" related to the defence of former İliç Public Prosecutor Bayram Bozkurt which was submitted to the Ministry of Justice. Bozkurt is tried at the Erzincan High Criminal Court under allegations of "misconduct in office". (EÖ/VK)