Property of journalist Can Dündar confiscated

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Standing trial over a news report published on daily Cumhuriyet regarding the trucks of the National Intelligence Organization (MİT) stopped by gendarmerie officers, journalist Can Dündar has been declared a "fugitive" and his property has been confiscated by a court verdict.

In the previous hearing on September 17, the İstanbul 14th Heavy Penal Court ruled that Dündar should be considered a "fugitive" and his entire property should be confiscated if he failed to appear in court within 15 days. This over two-week time given by the local court has expired.

In the interlocutory hearing held today, the court has ruled that Can Dündar's property shall be confiscated as he has not turned himself in.

Journalist Can Dündar, who was the Editor-in-Chief of Cumhuriyet newspaper when the related news was reported, is currently abroad.

CLICK - Property of journalist Can Dündar to be confiscated if he fails to appear in court

Announcing its interlocutory ruling, the court board has indicated that despite the due announcement of the court, Can Dündar has not turned himself in to the court or any courthouse or law enforcement agency within the borders of Turkey and ruled that he shall now be considered a "fugitive."

According to this court ruling, the independent section detected to belong to journalist Can Dündar in Kültür Neighborhood in Çankaya district in Ankara, the independent section that belongs to him in Dikmen Neighborhood in Ankara, the independent section in Bodrum, Muğla and the main immovables in Üsküdar, İstanbul have been confiscated.

Trustee appointed to Dündar's property

The court has also ruled that a writ shall be addressed to the Banks Association of Turkey (TBB) to identify the bank accounts of the journalist and a letter shall be addressed to the related banks to implement the seizure of his draw-savings bank accounts based on the reply of the TBB.

Considering the number of the confiscated immovables and the amount of claims, the Saving Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) has been appointed as a trustee by the court to manage the property in question.

What happened?

After daily Cumhuriyet, whose the then Editor-in-Chief was Can Dündar, published a news report titled "Here are the weapons Erdoğan said do not exist" on May 29, 2015, an investigation was launched against the journalist on charges of "obtaining information about the security of the state", "political and military espionage", "disclosing information that should have remained confidential" and "propagandizing for a terrorist organization."

Following this news report on the MİT trucks stopped by gendarmerie officers, President Erdoğan threatened Dündar without naming him on a live program on state channel TRT, saying, "I think that this person who reported that special news will pay a heavy price for this. I will not just leave him like this..."

As part of the investigation conducted by the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, former Cumhuriyet Editor-in-Chief Can Dündar and former Ankara Representative Erdem Gül were arrested on November 26, 2015 on charges of "obtaining and disclosing the confidential information of the state for purposes of political or military espionage" and "knowingly and willingly aiding an armed terrorist organization as non-members."

Following the ruling of "right violation" of the Constitutional Court on February 25, 2016, Dündar and Gül were released the day after.

Commenting on this ruling, President Tayyip Erdoğan said, "I do not respect it, I do not abide by the ruling."

Accepting the indictment issued by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the İstanbul 14th Heavy Penal Court ruled that Can Dündar should be sentenced to 5 years, 10 months in prison and Erdem Gül to 5 years in prison on charge of "disclosing the confidential information of the state."

Acquitting Dündar and Gül of "attempting to overthrow the government of the Republic of Turkey or attempting to prevent it from fulfilling its duty partly or fully," the court separated the file on charge of "knowingly and willingly aiding an armed terrorist organization as non-members.

On the day when he had his hearing in İstanbul, Can Dündar was targeted in an armed attack in front of the courthouse in Çağlayan. While Dündar survived the attack without any injuries, NTV reporter Yağız Şenkal was wounded in his leg. Murat Şahin, the assaulter, was sentenced to 10 months in prison and a judicial fine of 4 thousand 500 lira. While the court gave good conduct time to Şahin, it also ruled that "he could not be penalized over an attempted action."

The Court of Cassation reversed the prison sentences of Dündar and Gül on charge of "disclosing confidential information of the state" on March 9, 2018. In the light of this reversal, the trial started again at the İstanbul 14th Heavy Penal Court on April 2, 2019. The court requested a red notice against Dündar.

Upon the request of the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the court ruled that on September 17, 2020, in the event that Can Dündar, who was abroad at the time, did not appear in court within 15 days, he would be considered a "fugitive" and his entire property should be confiscated.

(HA/SD)