Journalist to Pay Damages to PM

Birgun daily columnist Erbil Tusalp is condemned to 5 thousand YTL (around 2500 euros) in compensation to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for assaulting his personal rights.

Turkish PM's lawyer Fatih Sahin argued in court that the writer gave place to horrendous statements aimed at Erdogan in his column published on December 24, 2005.

Ankara 18th Civil Court of first instance judge Kayhan Duran partially accepted the allegations and ruled to damages half of the amount the Sahin asked for.

Egundogan's case continues

Writing in the same newspaper, journalist Yalcin Ergundogan's case where he's tried with three years imprisonment continued without a ruling on December 6.

Ergundogan was put on trial after a criminal complaint by Independent Turkey Party (BTP) Chairman Haydar Bas and faces up to three years imprisonment under article 480/1-2 of the previous Penal Code and article 11 of the Press Law 5187.(EÖ/EÜ)