No More Jailed Defendants in Uğur Kantar case

A military court in Northern Cyprus released all jailed defendants within the case of Uğur Kantar, a private under compulsory drafting who allegedly lost his life on October 11, 2011. He allegedly suffered from torture and a solitary confinement penalty known as “disko” on July 25, 2011. 

Accused of torturing Kantar by handcuffing him under the sun, Ayhan Arslan and Fırat Keser were released by Military Court of Cyprus Turkish Peace Forces Command pending a trial after the hearing on March 21. 

The ruling was issued largely according to Code of Criminal Procedure Article 102/2. The court also concluded Arslan and Keser must stand trial in the future hearings and submit their presence signatures in the nearest district police department once a week.The court also issued an international travel ban to Arslan and Keser.

“All kinds of irregularity were made in Uğur Kantar’s case. The statements of arrested suspects were taken after 32 months. Arrested suspects, accused of torturing were released by majority of votes on the excuse that the long period of arrest” Teoman Özkan, Kantar Family’s solicitor commented on the judgment.

“We didn’t torture”

The suspects Keser and Arslan gave their statements for the first time after approximately 3 years, denying all the accusations.

“Although Uğur Kantar created trouble, we tried to keep him calm and we didn’t torture him. We poured water down on him in order to recover his consciousness, put him in handcuffs because we wanted him not to injure himself. He stayed under the sun maximum 10 min,” both of the suspects said. 

Objection from prosecutor and penal judge

Penal Judge Lieutenant Mehmet Dinçer casted a counter vote.

“According to articles 100, 101 and 102 of CMK (Code of Criminal Procedure) the arrest period must be continued due to the nature of crime and permanent existence of arrest reasons,” Dinçer stated in his objection.

Liteunant Nurettin Açık, the military prosecutor, also expressed that the arrest period of the suspects must be continued. 

The next hearing is set to 11 June 2014.

While Ayhan Arslan and Fırat Keser, Infantry Sergeants under compulsory drafting, have been charged with “torture as a result”, Infantry Sergeant Recep Tekin were accused of “premeditated assault” and Petty Officer Ayhan Şentürk with “duty abuse”. (EKN/BD/BM)