Former PM Spokesman Must Pay Compensation to Journalist

The Ankara 8^th Criminal Court of First Instance handed down a TL 7,500 (€ 3,750) monetary fine to Akif Beki, former spokesman of the Prime Ministry. The compensation is to be paid to Hürriyet newspaper reporter Hasan Tüfekçi. Beki was found guilty of identifying Tüfekçi as a target on the grounds of the article entitled "Security is left to God during the breaking of the fast".

The final hearing of the case was held on 28 September. The legal procedures started upon Tüfekçi's article and pictures revealing weaknesses of security in the Prime Ministry. The article was published in 2007.

One year after the article had made the headlines, the Prime Ministry Press Centre annulled Tüfekçi's accreditation.

Beki on the other hand had issued a writing to explain the procedures and principles for the accreditation. He had given the article as an example and announced that "the photographs were unreal, the news was made up and a lie and created at the desk".

Thereupon, Tüfekçi filed a compensation claim against Beki because of "insult". If Beki should appeal, the file will go to the Court of Appeals; if not, the decision will be finalized. (EÖ/VK)