MIT TRUCKS CASE
Acquittal for Erdem Gül, No Penalty for Enis Berberoğlu
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Regarding the news reports on National Intelligence Agency (MIT) trucks, the lawsuit filed against the former Editor-in-Chief of Cumhuriyet newspaper Can Dündar, its Ankara representative Erdem Gül and main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) İstanbul MP Enis Berberoğlu continued in İstanbul 14th Heavy Penal Court today (May 15).
The files of Enis Berberoğlu and Erdem Gül were separated from Can Dündar's file in the trial held in last February. While Erdem Gül and his lawyers participated in the trial, Enis Berberoğlu was not present.
Pronouncing its ruling, the court board ruled that the case filed against Gül for "knowingly and willfully helping the organization without being part of the hierarchical structure within the armed terrorist organization" shall be dropped and that there is no necessity to penalize CHP MP Berberoğlu.
Can Dündar's case to be held on October 31
The court also waits for the extradition of Can Dündar to Turkey to continue the trial. The court will again ask the Foreign Ministry about the identical letter revealing that Syria made a complaint about Turkey to the United Nations. Next hearing of Dündar will be held on October 31, 2019.
What happened?Prosecution started as to the article published with the headline "Here are the weapons Erdoğan claim to not exist" on May 29 over "Procuring information as to state security", "Political and military espionage", "Declaring confidential information", "Propagandizing terror organization". Chief Public Prosecutor Hadi Salihoğlu had declared the prosecution by press release. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had personally filed a criminal complaint and requested Dündar to be sentenced to one aggravated life imprisonment, one life imprisonment and 42 years in prison for "targeting state interests by using images contrary to facts". Erdoğan on a live broadcast on public channel TRT had said, "I guess the person who made this special news will heavily pay for it". Dündar and Gül had been imprisoned as of November 26. Upon their objection against arrest being rejected, they had made an appeal to the Constitutional Court over "violation of freedom of press and speech and the right to security". Upon reporter of the Constitutional Court delivering the opinion that "freedom of press and expression, right to personal security have been violated, their imprisonment is unlawful" as to Gül and Dündar's application, Gül and Dündar's file had been referred to the Constitutional Court General Assembly. CLICK - AYM REPORT: ARREST OF GÜL, DÜNDAR UNLAWFUL Constitutional Court General Assembly has ruled journalists Can Dündar and Erdem Gül imprisoned as of November 26 over MİT truck report subjected to violation of right. CLICK - CONSTITUTIONAL COURT RULES JOURNALIST CAN DÜNDAR, ERDEM GÜL EXPOSED TO VIOLATION OF RIGHT On February 26, 2016, 14th Heavy Penal Court has ruled release of Can Dündar and Erdem Gül following the "violation of rights" verdict by the Constitutional Court. CLICK - COURT RULES RELEASE OF CAN DÜNDAR, ERDEM GÜL President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has commentated on the Constitutional Court's ruling to release the journalists Gül and Dündar as "I don't obey the court decision. I don't respect it either". CLICK - ERDOGAN ON RELEASE OF GÜL AND DÜNDAR: I DON'T OBEY OR RESPECT THE COURT RULING On March 25, the Court has decided to hold the hearings without audience further on. On May 3, a prison sentence of 25 years was demanded for Can Dündar and up to 10 years in prison for Erdem Gül. The case was over on May 16. The journalists were sentenced to 10 years and 10 days in prison for "disclosing confidential information of the state". Acquitted of coup accusations, Gül and Dündar are still on trial on charges of "knowingly and willingly helping an armed organization as a non-member". İstanbul Regional Court of Justice 2nd Penal Chamber reversed the local court’s decision and sent the file to İstanbul 14th Heavy Penal Court. Reviewing the reversed decision, İstanbul Regional Court of Justice Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office annotated the decision. İstnabul 14th Heavy Penal Court reversed the decision of 25 years of imprisonment and returned the file. The 16th Penal Chamber of the Supreme Court of Appeals reversed the ruling of the 14th Heavy Penal Court, stating that Erdem Gül "shall be acquitted of the charged offense that cannot be proven" and Can Dündar "shall be given a higher sentence." |
(HA/TY/SD)