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Cumhuriyet daily’s Editor-in-Chief Can Dündar, tried before İstanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance, has been sentenced to a punitive fine of 8,750 Euro on charges of defaming President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, his son Bilal Erdoğan and some other businesspersons in his article series as to the December 17-25 summary of proceedings and investigations.
Dündar, also put on trial on charge of “compromising confidentiality” with regards to the İstanbul-based December 25 investigation case which has resulted in a verdict of non-prosecution, has been acquitted of these accusations on grounds that the elements of crime were not constituted.
Dündar following the verdict has stated “If exposing the truth is a crime, we will keep committing it”.
Dündar’s lawyers demand joining the cases
According to the report on Cumhuriyet daily, in their petition submitted to the court, Dündar’s lawyers have pointed out that the respective articles subjected to trial also constituted the grounds of accusations in MİT-Trucks (National Intelligence Agency) lawsuit and both cases should therefore be joined.
In the petition, the lawyers have underlined that the parties in both of the trials before İstanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance and İstanbul 14th High Criminal Court were the same and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was the reclaimant. The lawyers have demanded joining the cases in accordance with Article 44 of the Turkish Penal Code which provides “sentencing a person committing more that one crime through the same action to the highest punishment required by these crimes”.
Article, cause of action read out
Dündar’s articles with the titles “Reading summary of proceedings is our right”, “Erdoğan’s soft spot”, and “Dad of a friend” which constituted the grounds for the accusations and cause of action have been read out before the court.
Dündar has noted; “As there is no concrete accusation, I would like to use my article series as my defence and read all them here”.
Decision
The board of judges has announced the decision following the plea.
The board has sentenced Can Dündar to a punitive fine of 8,750 euro on charge of “defaming public officials”.
Dündar, also tried on charge of “compromising confidentiality” with regards to the December 25 investigation case has been acquitted of the accusations on grounds that the elements of crime were not constituted.
Dündar, making a statement on his Twitter account later has noted “If exposing the truth is a crime, we will keep committing it”. (EKN/DG)
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