Sledgehammer trial opens today in Istanbul
Sledgehammer trial opens today in Istanbul
Most of the 196 suspects in the so called Sledgehammer trial are appearing at Istanbul 10th High Criminal Court today. The files concerning the suspects in the alleged coup plan were transferred yesterday from Beþiktaþ courthouse.
The suspects, all retired and active duty members of the military are charged with the failed attempt to destroy the Parliament and overthrow the ruling AKP (Justice and Development Party).
The Sledgehammer Security Operation Plan, a suspected coup plan devised at a military gathering in 2003 that allegedly sought to undermine the government in order to lay the groundwork for a military takeover.
Tension is high and on Tuesday the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) has removed the presiding judge in the case, Zafer Baþkurt, sending him to a court in Gebze. The board also removed Erkan Canak sending him to a court in Sakarya. The board said that the moves have been made following an earlier Ministry of Justice report about the judges in which the two were accused of close contacts with suspects in the Ergenekon case. In other words the judges are said to be with alleged members of the shadowy criminal network known as Ergenekon, also plotting to topple the government. Many of its members, which include members of the military, journalists, businessmen, are in prison standing trial.
Tension further rose when lawyers belonging to the Reform of Justice Group opened a banner saying "The Army exhausted justice" and remarking that this was a great day for Turkish history. Lawyer Tülay Sofu on behalf of the group said that "one would wish that that these trials had been carried out in the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s so that the virus transmitted to our Republic would had been eradicated in favour of justice".
The trial is held at a special court house in the town of Silivri, near Istanbul, and marks the government's increasing confidence in confronting a military that once held sway over Turkish political life. All 196 suspects, who are free pending trial, face between 15 and 20 years in prison if convicted on charges of "attempting to topple the government by force," according to the indictment,
Some suspects, who cited travel abroad as an excuse missed the first hearing. But Gen. Çetin Doðan, the former head of the 1st Army, former Land Forces Commander Gen. Aytaç Yalman, former Air Forces Commander Gen. Ýbrahim Fýrtýna and former Naval Forces Commander Adm. Özden Örnek, all of whom retired in 2004 were present at the court.
Among other suspects are generals and admirals on active duty, including Gen. Nejat Bek, Vice Adm. Mehmet Otuzbiroðlu, Maj. Gen. Ahmet Yavuz, Maj. Gen. Gürbüz Kaya and Rear Adm. Caner Bener. Kaya was suspended in late November by the defense minister due to his suspected ties to the Sledgehammer plan.
Prime suspect Cetin Dogan said the trial is illegitimate and they will show the world what is really going on in Turkey at the court.
The trial continues with identity verification of suspects.
The suspects, all retired and active duty members of the military are charged with the failed attempt to destroy the Parliament and overthrow the ruling AKP (Justice and Development Party).
The Sledgehammer Security Operation Plan, a suspected coup plan devised at a military gathering in 2003 that allegedly sought to undermine the government in order to lay the groundwork for a military takeover.
Tension is high and on Tuesday the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) has removed the presiding judge in the case, Zafer Baþkurt, sending him to a court in Gebze. The board also removed Erkan Canak sending him to a court in Sakarya. The board said that the moves have been made following an earlier Ministry of Justice report about the judges in which the two were accused of close contacts with suspects in the Ergenekon case. In other words the judges are said to be with alleged members of the shadowy criminal network known as Ergenekon, also plotting to topple the government. Many of its members, which include members of the military, journalists, businessmen, are in prison standing trial.
Tension further rose when lawyers belonging to the Reform of Justice Group opened a banner saying "The Army exhausted justice" and remarking that this was a great day for Turkish history. Lawyer Tülay Sofu on behalf of the group said that "one would wish that that these trials had been carried out in the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s so that the virus transmitted to our Republic would had been eradicated in favour of justice".
The trial is held at a special court house in the town of Silivri, near Istanbul, and marks the government's increasing confidence in confronting a military that once held sway over Turkish political life. All 196 suspects, who are free pending trial, face between 15 and 20 years in prison if convicted on charges of "attempting to topple the government by force," according to the indictment,
Some suspects, who cited travel abroad as an excuse missed the first hearing. But Gen. Çetin Doðan, the former head of the 1st Army, former Land Forces Commander Gen. Aytaç Yalman, former Air Forces Commander Gen. Ýbrahim Fýrtýna and former Naval Forces Commander Adm. Özden Örnek, all of whom retired in 2004 were present at the court.
Among other suspects are generals and admirals on active duty, including Gen. Nejat Bek, Vice Adm. Mehmet Otuzbiroðlu, Maj. Gen. Ahmet Yavuz, Maj. Gen. Gürbüz Kaya and Rear Adm. Caner Bener. Kaya was suspended in late November by the defense minister due to his suspected ties to the Sledgehammer plan.
Prime suspect Cetin Dogan said the trial is illegitimate and they will show the world what is really going on in Turkey at the court.
The trial continues with identity verification of suspects.
