Torture Case of Killed Activist Çeber Postponed

The case related to Engin Çeber who was killed by torture in custody was postponed to 12 April 2010.

Çeber family lawyer Oya Aslan told bianet that the assigned prosecutor excused his absence in yesterday's (22 February) hearing at the Bakırköy (Istanbul) 14^th High Criminal Court. The joint attorneys of the Çeber family requested additional time for the preparation of their final speech. Thus, the court decided to postpone the case.

Tortured Baykal, Karakaya and Gün on trial

The hearing of the case against Aysu Baykal, Özgür Karakaya and Cihan Gün will be held today (23 February). All three defendants were arrested together with Çeber and exposed to torture in the police department.

Baykal, Karakaya and Gün stand trial at the Sarıyer (Istanbul) 2^nd Criminal Court of First Instance under charges "resistance to the police" and violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations.

Lawyer Aslan told bianet that the complaining police officers are supposed to attend today's hearing to be questioned.

Detailed description of torture

Ceber was arrested together with Baykal, Gün and Karakaya after he had issued a press release protesting that the shooting of left-wing human rights activist Ferhat Gerçek by the police, which resulted in his paralysis, has not been investigated or punished by the authorities.He was sent to a prison in Istanbul, where he was severely beaten. After complaining to his lawyer, he was sent to a hospital, where he fell into a coma, dying of brain hemorrhage on 10 October 2008.

After the Forensic Medicine report proved evidence for torture, Turkey's Minister of Justice Mehmet Ali Sahin admitted the torture and apologized.

Footage had been published showing police officers kicking Çeber and his friends while they were sitting on the floor with handcuffs.

Inspectors do not consider punishment necessary

According to an administrative investigation report prepared by 2^nd Degree Chief of Police Hüdai Sayın, there is "no need for punishment but for anger management training" for the police officers.

As part of the case file, the report concluded that instead of punishment "training related to physical intervention against persons in custody, use of hand-cuffs, appeasing and anger management" is regarded necessary. The Police Directorate launched an investigation into the death of Çeber on 15 July 2009, nine months after the incident had actually happened.

13 out of a total of 33 police officers are being prosecuted. Untill now, the court declined the request for detention of police officers Abdülmuttalip Bozyar and Mehmet Pek. None of the police officers are in detention.

Lawyer Aslan indicated that the information and training recommendations included in the report in fact support the torture allegations.

Parliamentary Commission: "maltreatment before imprisonment"

The report issued by the Parliamentary Human Rights Commission stated, "Çeber was maltreated prior to his transfer to prison. Cameras show swellings in his face when he enters the prison. It has to be investigated who is responsible for these swellings".

Police cameras show violence

Footage showed Çeber and his three friends sitting on the floor hand-cuffed and police officers kicking them. (TK/VK)