Court Orders 11 Students to Serve 120 Years All Together

Erzurum 4th High Criminal Court held the final hearing of trial yesterday, where 11 students from Erzurum University were charged with being "an illegal organization member".

Arrested on 24 May 2012, students have been standing trial since 7 November 2012.

The judge panel found Bişar Bilen guilty for being a "member of an armed terrorist organization" and threatening a police officer, ordering him to serve a total of 13 years and 11 months.

For charges related to being a "member of an armed terrorist organization", defendant Sinan Salhan were ordered to serve 13 years and 5 months of prison, while defendants Abdullah Kızılkaya, Yakup Kırmızı, Sadık Özbay, Mehmet Bozdağ, Yorgun Bektaşoğlu and Yaprak Oruç were ordered to serve 12 years of prison. The court ordered other defendants Murat Tak (already jailed), Leyla Ülgen and Saadet Hocaoğlu to serve 9 years of prison. (AS/HK)