Prosecutor seeks sentence over news report on presidential aide's 'illegal construction'

Photo: RSF

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The third hearing of the case concerning a report on Presidency Communications Director Fahrettin Altun's "illegal constructions" was held at the İstanbul 26th Heavy Penal court today (June 24).

Submitting their opinion as to the accusations, the prosecutor demanded four journalists from daily Cumhuriyet —Hazal Ocak, Olcay Büyüktaş Akça, İpek Özbey ve Vedat Arık— be sentenced for "violating privacy" and "marking counterterrorism officials as a target."

The case concerns a report titled "Illegal construction in Bosphorus," which was about small buildings and gazebos built by Altun on rented premises with a view of İstanbul's Bosphorus Strait.

The İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) had demolished the buildings but Altun had filed a complaint against the journalists.

In today's hearing, journalists requested time to prepare their statements of defense against the prosecutor's opinion. The next hearing will be held on December 1.

Journalists, their attorneys, Journalists' Union of Turkey (TGS) Chair Gökhan Durmuş and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Turkey Representative Erol Önderoğlu were present at the courtroom.

What happened?

Presidential Communications Director Fahrettin Altun rented the estate behind his house in the Zone with View to Bosphorus from the Directorate General of Foundations for 10 years.

As reported by Hazal Ocak from daily Cumhuriyet, Altun had a wall built on the estate. While the wall could be seen from many angles, he also had the landscape designed with a road, fireplace and pergola.

The construction in the area was demolished by the teams of İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality upon the complaint of his neighbors on April 13.

The İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation into the reports where Altun's residential address and photo were used on the ground that his privacy was violated and he was "marked as a target for terrorist organizations." (HA/VK)