EIGHT OFFICERS TO FACE CHARGES IN DINK TRIAL

Today’s Zaman
Feb 18 2009
Turkey

Eight military officers will be facing charges of dereliction of
duty for failing to prevent the assassination of Turkish-Armenian
journalist Hrant Dink, who in January 2007 was gunned down by an
ultranationalist teenager in broad daylight outside his office.

The Trabzon 2nd Criminal Court of Peace will be hearing the case. The
eight military officers will be facing sentences ranging from six
months to two years in prison.

Following Dink’s murder, mounting evidence indicated that the police
were tipped off about the assassination plot several times months
before the actual attack. Istanbul’s chief of police has acknowledged
that there was a tip-off about a possible attack on Dink, but said
its level of priority was too low for his department to take seriously.