Semdinli Case to Continue in Civilian Court

In the Semdinli case, in which two army officers, Ali Kaya and Özcan Ildeniz, and one PKK member-turned -informant, Veysel Ates, have been sentenced to imprisonment for the bombing of a bookstore in Semdinli (east of Turkey, province of Hakkari) in November 2005, the 4th Heavy Penal Court in Van has decreed that the case will continue to be heard in a civilian court. The demand by the suspects for release on bail was denied.

Disagreement with Supreme Court of Appeals

In its ruling, the 4th Heavy Penal Court in Van evaluated the prior ruling of the Supreme Court of Appeals. On 16 May, the Supreme Court of Appeals had rescinded the initial sentences handed out to the three defendants by the 3rd Heavy Penal Court in Van, arguing that "questioning had been incomplete" and that the trial should be heard before a military tribunal.

The 3rd Heavy Penal Court in Van had decided only to accept the Supreme Court's decision partially by reopening the trial, but it also decreed that the case would continue in front of a civilian court. As a result, the defence complained to a higher court in Van, the 4th Heavy Penal Court. The defence again called for a military hearing and for the defendants to be released on bail.

The 4th Heavy Penal Court has now ruled that the decision of the Supreme Court of Appeals had no "legal value".

Tip of the iceberg

In the initial ruling by the 3rd Heavy Penal Court in Van on 19 June 2006, army officers Ali Kaya and Özcan Ildeniz had both received prison sentences of 39 years, 5 months and 10 days. Veysel Ates had been sentenced to 39 years, 10 months and 27 days imprisonment.

A third-party lawyer to the case, Sezgin Tanrikulu, had commented that the criminal organisation is not just made up of three people, and that the whole organisation needed to be uncovered and destroyed.

The case will be continued on 11 July. (TK/EÜ/AG/EÜ)

Related Articles:

* 21. 06.07 "'Semdinli Gang' Not Only Three People"

* 14.06.07 Military Thwarted in Semdinli Case

* Amnesty International: Bombing in Semdinli: How high up does it go?