Writer to Sell His Flat to Pay for Damages

The Military Supreme Court overturned a lower military court's decision to send a trial, in which Dilipak is charged with "damaging juniority-seniority relations," to a civilian court. Three other writers, Mustafa Karahasanoglu, Mustafa Hacimustafaogullari and Huseyin Ari, are also being charged in the same trial. The trial will continue at a military court on July 27.

Dilipak has a new trial against him for an article titled, "Don't Trust Jurisdiction," published in the Vakit newspaper.

"I can't bring myself to say I want to be acquitted"

Dilipak is standing trial for "insulting the military" by criticizing the fact that some retired generals serve as advisors for some holding companies with suspicious activities.

"I know I am not guilty legally, and as far as my conscience is concerned," said Dilipak, during the latest hearing.

"I can't bring myself to say I want to be acquitted... I am requesting that you bring to an end this legal comedy, which views it normal to create convicts out of writers and prosecutors out of generals, and which bans investigating corruption. Prevent our lives from turning into a tragedy."

In another trial, Dilipak is faced with up to three years in prison for an article titled, "This Would be the Result," published in the Akit newspaper on July 1, 2000.

Erkaya conviction brings about sequestration

Dilipak was handed a huge fine in damages for an article he wrote after the death of Retired Vice Admiral Guven Erkaya. His house was sequestrated after he failed to pay the fine. (EO/EU/EA/YE)