Journalist and Writer Ahmet Altan Detained

* Photo: Tansel Parlak - İstanbul / AA

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Journalist and writer Ahmet Altan, who was released on November 4 after serving 1,128 days in prison, was detained yesterday (November 12).

The İstanbul 27th Heavy Penal Court issued an arrest warrant against him earlier yesterday. Police officers went to the house of Altan in Göztepe, İstanbul upon this warrant and took him into custody there.

Saying goodbye to his children, Altan was first taken to Eyüp State Hospital for a health check, then to the Directorate of Security on Vatan Avenue. Altan is expected to be referred to courthouse today.

Prosecutor's office objected two days later

After journalist and writer Ahmet Altan was sentenced to 10 years, 6 months in prison on charge of "knowingly aiding the organization as a non-member" and released from prison considering the time he had already served behind bars, the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office objected to the verdict of release two days later on November 6.

The İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office lodged its objection at the upper court, the İstanbul 27th Heavy Penal Court.

Referring to the Articles 98 and 100 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK), the Prosecutor's Office requested that an arrest warrant be issued against Altan on the ground that "judicial control measures do not serve their purposes considering his suspicion of escape, conviction of a predicate offense, his position, title and intensity of actions, the length of his prison sentence, the time he served in prison and prolongation of his actions."

What happened?

Shortly after the İstanbul 26th Heavy Penal Court ruled for their release in the retrial held in the wake of a Court of Cassation verdict of reversal, journalist and writer Ahmet Altan and Nazlı Ilıcak were released from Silivri Prison and Bakırköy Women's Prison on November 4.

Announcing its verdict, the court ruled that Ahmet Altan should be sentenced to 10 years, 6 months in prison on charge of "knowingly aiding the organization as a non-member" and Nazlı Ilıcak should be sentenced to 8 years, 9 months in prison on the same charge. Considering the nature of the crime and the time that they had already served in prison, the court ruled that Altan and Ilıcak should be released on probation.

The court has also ruled that Mehmet Altan shall be acquitted on the ground that evidence could not be obtained.

CLICK - Verdict of Release for Ahmet Altan and Nazlı Ilıcak, Acquittal for Mehmet Altan

CLICK - Ahmet Altan and Nazlı Ilıcak Released

(EKN/SD)