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BIA, Turkey
Feb 19 2008
Dink Lawyers: Co-Plaintiffs But Left in the Dark
Before the fourth hearing of the Hrant Dink murder trial on 25
February, there is stil evidence of lack of transparency as the
co-plaintiffs are not informed of procedures.
Istanbul, Ankara
19-02-2008
Erol ONDEROGLU
The lawyers of the Dink family are going to file a complaint because
they are not being informed of procedures in the Dink murder trial,
despite being joint attorneys. They will complain to the Ministry of
the Interior and the Istanbul Governor's Office.
Fethiye Cetin, one of the lawyers, told bianet that because they
were co-plaintiffs in the case, they had to be informed of all
transactions. However, so Cetin, "we find out about processes like
judicial annulment decisions from other sources, for instance the
media."
Not informed of new investigation For example, the lawyers also heard
through the media that the Ministry of the Interior has decided on a
reinvestigation of the Dink murder case transactions with two civil
service chief inspectors, a police chief inspector with equal rank
to the chief of police, and a new expert witness.
Thus, the lawyers will complain to the Ministry of the Interior and
other authorities. They will demand that those neglecting their duties
be identified and punished.
Meanwhile, the second investigation has been opened against Istanbul's
Chief of Police Celalettin Cerrah and high ranking police officers
in the Istanbul police because they have been accused of neglecting
to prevent the murder of Hrant Dink.
Previous investigation blocked The Ministry of the Interior
had previously launched an investigation which had pointed to
responsibility and negligence lying with all Istanbul police
officers "from the lowest to the highest ranks"; however, the
Regional Administrative Court had denied permission for Cerrah to
be investigated.
When the first investigation was concluded on 28 Agust 2007, the
Istanbul Governor's Office Province Administrative Board had given
permission for the investigation of Ahmet Ilhan Guler, chief of police
intelligence, but not Cerrah. Both Guler and the Dink lawyers had
objected to the decision.
Reinvestigation of periods before and after 19 January 2007
The second investigation will employ new chief inspectors and prepare
a detailed report on the period leading up to the prosecution and
trial. The report will then be presented to Minister of the Interior
Besir Atalay.
The report will also look at officers who are still employed in
Istanbul and Trabzon; it will evaluate whether there was negligence
on behalf of police and gendarmerie officers in the murder, and will
examine the procedures carried out after Hrant Dink's murder on 19
January 2007.
Prosecution has rejected joining cases The lawyers of the Dink family
had previously filed a criminal complaint with the Istanbul Chief
Public Prosecution against the former Trabzon Province Gendarmerie
Commander Colonel Ali Oz and five other gendarmerie officers, as
well as Istanbul Chief of Police Celalettin Cerrah and other police
officers, accusing them of neglecting to do their duties. The lawyers
had demanded that these officers be tried in the main murder trial
heard at the Istanbul 13th Heavy Penal Court.
However, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecution had decreed lack of
jurisdiction for the officers and had sent the files to prosecutors
in Istanbul and Trabzon. (EO/TK/AG)
Feb 19 2008
Dink Lawyers: Co-Plaintiffs But Left in the Dark
Before the fourth hearing of the Hrant Dink murder trial on 25
February, there is stil evidence of lack of transparency as the
co-plaintiffs are not informed of procedures.
Istanbul, Ankara
19-02-2008
Erol ONDEROGLU
The lawyers of the Dink family are going to file a complaint because
they are not being informed of procedures in the Dink murder trial,
despite being joint attorneys. They will complain to the Ministry of
the Interior and the Istanbul Governor's Office.
Fethiye Cetin, one of the lawyers, told bianet that because they
were co-plaintiffs in the case, they had to be informed of all
transactions. However, so Cetin, "we find out about processes like
judicial annulment decisions from other sources, for instance the
media."
Not informed of new investigation For example, the lawyers also heard
through the media that the Ministry of the Interior has decided on a
reinvestigation of the Dink murder case transactions with two civil
service chief inspectors, a police chief inspector with equal rank
to the chief of police, and a new expert witness.
Thus, the lawyers will complain to the Ministry of the Interior and
other authorities. They will demand that those neglecting their duties
be identified and punished.
Meanwhile, the second investigation has been opened against Istanbul's
Chief of Police Celalettin Cerrah and high ranking police officers
in the Istanbul police because they have been accused of neglecting
to prevent the murder of Hrant Dink.
Previous investigation blocked The Ministry of the Interior
had previously launched an investigation which had pointed to
responsibility and negligence lying with all Istanbul police
officers "from the lowest to the highest ranks"; however, the
Regional Administrative Court had denied permission for Cerrah to
be investigated.
When the first investigation was concluded on 28 Agust 2007, the
Istanbul Governor's Office Province Administrative Board had given
permission for the investigation of Ahmet Ilhan Guler, chief of police
intelligence, but not Cerrah. Both Guler and the Dink lawyers had
objected to the decision.
Reinvestigation of periods before and after 19 January 2007
The second investigation will employ new chief inspectors and prepare
a detailed report on the period leading up to the prosecution and
trial. The report will then be presented to Minister of the Interior
Besir Atalay.
The report will also look at officers who are still employed in
Istanbul and Trabzon; it will evaluate whether there was negligence
on behalf of police and gendarmerie officers in the murder, and will
examine the procedures carried out after Hrant Dink's murder on 19
January 2007.
Prosecution has rejected joining cases The lawyers of the Dink family
had previously filed a criminal complaint with the Istanbul Chief
Public Prosecution against the former Trabzon Province Gendarmerie
Commander Colonel Ali Oz and five other gendarmerie officers, as
well as Istanbul Chief of Police Celalettin Cerrah and other police
officers, accusing them of neglecting to do their duties. The lawyers
had demanded that these officers be tried in the main murder trial
heard at the Istanbul 13th Heavy Penal Court.
However, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecution had decreed lack of
jurisdiction for the officers and had sent the files to prosecutors
in Istanbul and Trabzon. (EO/TK/AG)