One tip-off spawns two separate indictments

CANAN COŞKUN
 
A further indictment has been added to the trial brought against our reporter Ahmet Şık, who has been in detention for 396 days for his news reports and social media posts, in relation to a tip-off by Anadolu Agency reporter Kerem Kocalar for his Twitter posts. Under the second indictment drafted on the basis of Kocalar’s complaint to the Prime Ministerial Communications Centre including the exhortation, “For the sake of God examine them,” the prison term sought for Şık has increased from two to three and a half years. The posts complained about are also being adduced against Şık in charges raised in the Cumhuriyet trial.
 
A trial was filed against our reporter Ahmet Şık, who is in detention for his news reports and social media posts, for Twitter posts reported in a tip-off by Anadolu Agency reporter Kerem Kocalar, exhorting, “For the sake of God examine them.” In the trial that was brought in relation to the tip-off, Şık’s imprisonment for up to two years was sought for the offence of “Denigrating the Turkish people, the Republic of Turkey state and the state’s institutions and organs.” Following acceptance of the indictment by Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 17, a further indictment was drafted by Istanbul Republic Chief Prosecution Press Crimes Investigation Office prosecutor, Asım Ekren. It was asserted in the indictment that the offence was committed successively, with the allegation that there was an actual and legal connection between the trial filed in the same court and the last indictment to be drafted.
 
With Şık not participating at the hearing being held today into the said tip-off at Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 17, lawyer Can Atalay was in attendance in the courtroom. Lawyer Atalay, indicating that Şık was experiencing health problems due to lengthy detention, said that he was also experiencing difficulty preparing a defence under prison conditions. Lawyer Atalay stated that Şık wished to present a defence before the court. The court then ruled that a writ be drafted to the prison for Şık to be brought to the next hearing and adjourned the hearing until 22 May.