Canan Kaftancıoğlu to be brought to court ‘by force’

* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA)

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Charged with "inciting to commit crimes" and "praising the crime and criminal", main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) İstanbul Provincial Chair Canan Kaftancıoğlu had her first hearing.

While Kaftancıoğlu did not attend the hearing at the İstanbul Anadolu13th Penal Court of First Instance, the attorneys of the Presidency's Communications Director Fahrettin Altun were present.

Referring to Canan Kaftancıoğlu, who is standing trial over an incident where the photographs of Altun's house were taken, Altun's attorneys said that they were still pressing charges against Kaftancıoğlu.

Attorney Sezgin Tunç said, "We demand involvement. According to the statements and evidence presented in the file, it is certain that the defendant committed the crime. We demand her penalization."

The attorney noted that a lawsuit was filed against CHP Üsküdar Chair Suat Özçağdaş at the İstanbul Anadolu 17th Penal Court of First Instance and demanded that the file of Kaftancıoğlu's case be merged with that of Özçağdaş, who is charged with "violating the right to privacy."

Speaking at the hearing, Lahika Karaduman, the attorney of Canan Kaftancıoğlu, stated that her client had an excuse due to her duty and that she would appear before the judge at the next hearing.

Taking the floor again, Fahrettin Altun's attorney Tunç said that Kaftancıoğlu was informed about the trial and demanded a warrant against her.

Altun's request accepted

Announcing its interim ruling afterwards, the court board has accepted complainant Fahrettin Altun's request for involvement in the trial in the event that any harm came to him due to the related offense.

The court board has also ruled that a copy of the indictment filed against CHP Üsküdar Chair Özçağdaş shall be requested from the İstanbul Anadolu 17th Penal Court of First Instance. When the copy of the indictment is delivered to the court, the penal court of first instance shall be asked for its assent for merging the files of the two cases.

In the preliminary proceedings report, Kaftancıoğlu was reportedly warned that a warrant would be issued to bring her to court by force if she did not attend the hearing without any excuses. Accordingly, on the grounds that she did not attend the hearing despite an invitation, the board has ruled that a warrant shall be issued against her to bring her to court by force.

Hearing has been adjourned to rectify the deficiencies.

Indicted for "inciting to commit crimes" and "praising the crime and criminal", Kaftancıoğlu faces 9 months to 10 years, 6 months in prison.

What happened?

An investigation was launched against three people, including CHP Üsküdar Chair Suat Özçağdaş, on the grounds that the house of Communications Director Fahrettin Altun in İstanbul were photographed.

Summoned to the police station by phone to give their statements, Özçağdaş and two others were released pending trial upon the instruction of the prosecutor's office after they gave their statements.

Fahrettin Altun's attorneys filed a criminal complaint against CHP İstanbul Chair Canan Kaftancıoğlu by appealing to the İstanbul Anadolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on the grounds of her social media message about CHP Üsküdar District Chair Suat Özçağdaş.

The prosecutor's office examined the petition and launched an investigation against Canan Kaftancıoğlu on charges of "praising the crime and criminal" and "instigating to violate the right to privacy. (EMK/SD)