Awaiting for Forensic Report in Torture

A former head of Anti-Terrorism Unit and three police officers are standing trial for charges of torturing Mehmet Desde under detention. The court has been awaiting a report from the Forensic Medical Institution for the last three months.

İzmir

Four police officers from the Izmir Police Headquarters are standing trial for charges of torturing Mehmet Desde at the Bozyaka Anti-Terrorism Unit, when he was under detention. The sixth hearing of the trial was held Thursday.

Awaiting Forensic Medical report

The Forensic Medical Institution did not send a required report Thursday. The court has been awaiting the report from the Institution for the last three months. The hearing was postponed to April 14.

"I am determined to continue this fight despite threats to my life security," said Mehmet Desde.

The Istanbul Forensic Medical Institution will say in a report whether the findings of the Forensic Medical Institution of the Ege University and the Izmir Doctors' Chamber are correct and whether or not they are a result of torture. The Institution will then send the report to the court.

Torture allegations

The charges against the pour policemen, accused with torturing Mehmet Desde at the Bozkaya Anti-Terrorism Unit on July 9-13 when he was under detention, are based on article no: 243/1 of the Turkish Penal Code.

The trial against Muhtesem Cavusoglu, the former head of the Izmir Police Headquarters, Anti-Terrorism Unit, Mesut Angi, Alim Ercetin and Hurriyet Gunduz had begun on October 2, 2003. (EO/BB/EA/YE)