Former Prosecutor Investigating Türkan Saylan Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison

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The 9th Penal Chamber of the Supreme Court of Appeals has ruled that former prosecutor Mehmet Murat Yönder, who conducted investigations such as Ergenekon, Balyoz and the Association for Supporting Contemporary Life (ÇYDD), shall be sentenced to 12 years in prison for "being a member of the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ)".

As part of the ÇYDD investigation that Yönder was conducting, the house of former ÇYDD Chair Dr. Türkan Saylan was raided and searched early in the morning with Yönder's order on April 13, 2009.

'They were detained with fabricated evidence'

As reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), the trial of Constitutional Court, Supreme Court of Appeals, State Council and Supreme Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) members discharged and arrested after the coup attempt on July 15, 2016 continued yesterday (September 16).

Held by the 9th Penal Chamber of the Supreme Court of Appeals, yesterday's hearing was attended by arrested defendant Mehmet Murat Yönder, a former member of the Supreme Court of Appeals, and his attorney.

Yönder was charged with "being appointed as a specially authorized prosecutor by the organization and conducting investigations such Ergenekon, Balyoz, Poyrazköy and ÇYDD, publicly known as 'cases of plot'."

It was also alleged that Yönder "was a member of the team that engaged in unjust and unfair actions such detaining and arresting people at night by exaggerating simple incidents based on fabricated evidence, was elected to the Supreme Court of Appeals with the order of the organization and continued meeting FETÖ members after he was elected to the Supreme Court." Yönder rejected the charges brought against him.

Request for release rejected

After the defenses were completed, the verdict of the 9th Penal Chamber of the Supreme Court of Appeals was announced by the court member Abdurrahman Orkun Dağ.

The court has ruled that Mehmet Murat Yönder shall be sentenced to eight years in prison on charge of "being a member of the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization/Parallel State Structure (FETÖ/PDY)". As per the Article 5/1 of the Anti-Terror Law no. 3713, his prison term has been increased by half on that ground that he was convicted of a terror crime.

Considering that Yönder did not display any repentance in the judicial process, his prison term has not been reducetd as per the Article 62 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK). His request for release has also been rejected.

An appeal can be lodged against the verdict of conviction at the Supreme Court of Appeals General Assembly for Criminal Matters. (AS/SD)