Judge who ordered arrest of Osman Kavala, journalist Sedef Kabaş gets promoted

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The judge who ordered the arrest of businessperson Osman Kavala and journalist Sedef Kabaş has been appointed as the presiding judge of the Bitlis Heavy Penal Court.

Bilgehan Ertem's appointment was by a permanent authorization decree by the first Chamber of the Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSK).

However, Ertem did not have the qualifications for his previous appointment, Cumhuriyet reported. Ertem was previously a lawyer and became a judge in 2018.

When he was appointed as a penal judge of peace, he had three years and 10 months of professional experience, whereas a judge needs to have at least four years of experience to be appointed as a penal judge of peace, the newspaper reported.

According to a HSK resolution on December 21, judges had to serve in the same region for four years to become a penal judge of peace.

Ertem was the judge of the case of journalist Sedef Kabaş, who was sentenced to 2 years and 4 months in prison in March for "insulting the president."

He had also ordered the arrest of businessperson and rights advocate Osman Kavala for "obtaining classified state information for political and military espionage purposes" in March 2020. (HA/VK)