CHP İstanbul Chair faces up to 10.5 years in prison

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As part of an investigation launched into the incident where the photographs of Presidential Communications Director Fahrettin Altun's house were taken, the İstanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has brought an indictment against main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) İstanbul Chair Canan Kaftancıoğlu.

The indictment has demanded that Canan Kaftancıoğlu be sentenced to 9 months to 10 years, 6 months in prison on charges of "incitement to commit a crime" and "praising the crime and the criminal."

If the indictment is accepted by the court, the investigation will turn into a prosecution and Kaftancıoğlu will stand trial in the upcoming days.

The indictment filed against the CHP İstanbul Chair has further alleged that Kaftancıoğlu incited CHP Üsküdar District Chair Suat Özçağdaş to take the photographs of Altun's house in Kuzguncuk, İstanbul.

Facing a lawsuit on charge of "violating privacy", CHP Üsküdar Chair Özçağdaş gave his statement as part of these proceedings and said that he had done it upon the instruction of CHP provincial chair.

Altun's attorney objected to non-prosecution

Another investigation launched against Kaftancıoğlu on the same charge previously ended in non-prosecution. The social media posts of the politician were considered within freedom of expression.

The related decision referred to lack of evidence as to the charge of inciting to violate privacy and to the absence of elements on other charges, concluding that there was no possibility of a prosecution.

Upon the objection of Altun's attorney, the İstanbul Anatolian 8th Penal Judgeship of Peace reversed the non-prosecution, indicating, "Considering that there is sufficient suspicion and evidence against Canan Kaftancıoğlu for a trial, an authorized court shall judge and examine whether she incited the crime of violation of privacy and whether she committed the other crimes."

The judgeship also ruled that the investigation file should be sent back to the prosecutor's office conducting the investigation.

The indictment has indicated that as the judgeship reversed the decision of non-prosecution, there has emerged the need to open a criminal case.

CHP: No notification delivered to us

CHP İstanbul Provincial Chair Kaftancıoğlu has stated that no notification has been delivered to her regarding a lawsuit where she faces 9 months to 10 years, 5 months in prison on charges of "inciting to commit a crime" and "praising the crime and the criminal."

She has also added that as in the case of previous legal proceedings against her, she has learned about it via the press.

As reported by Hürriyet newspaper, Canan Kaftancıoğlu has indicated that "the groundless lawsuits filed against her aim to intimidate the society, rather than her, and to create a society of fear." (EMK/SD)