EXAMINATION OF CASE OF HRANT DINK’S MURDER FINISHED

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 03 2007

ISTANBUL, MAY 3, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Prosecutor’s Office
of Istanbul stated about finish of the examination of the case of Agos
weekly editor-in-chief Hrant Dink’s murder. According to the 30-page
bill of indictment formed by Istanbul Prosecutors Selim Berna Altay and
Fikret Secen, it is demanded to define punishment towards 18 defendants
for founding "terrorism organization with an ideological orientation."

According to Turkish press, the Prosecutors demanded that 8 from
the 18 defendants, Erhan Tuncel, Yasin Hayal, Ogun Samast, Zeynel
Abiden Yavuz, Ersin Yolcun, Ahmed Iskender, Mustafa Ozturk, Tuncay
Uzundal are sentenced to life imprisonment (to recap, Erhan Tuncel
and Yasin Hayal are considered the main defendants in the affair
of Hrant Dink’s murder). But from these 8 defendants, Ogun Samast
committed Dink’s murder will not be sentenced to life imprisonment
because of being juvenile, instead of it he will be sentenced to 18-20
year imprisonment. Zeynel Abiden Yavuz, Ersin Yolcun, Ahmed Iskender,
Mustafa Ozturk, Tuncay Uzundal may also avoid life imprisonment. They
will be sentenced to 15-20 year imprisonment with the accusation of
"showing assistance to commiting the crime." Yasar Cihan and Halis
Egemen from the members of the Great Unity party also occupied places
in the row of 18 defendants. They, as well as Salih Hacisalihoglu,
will be sentenced to 10-year imprisonment with the accusation of
"joining the terrorism organization." And Alper Esirgemez, Irfan Ozkan,
Osman Alpay, Erbil Susaman, Numan Sisman, Senol Akduman and Veysel
Toprak will be sentenced to from 6 month to 5-year imprisonment for
"assisting organization of terrorism" and "hiding the crime."