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Today's Zaman, Turkey
April 15 2012
Former Dink case judge to be tried for bribery, corruption
0
15 April 2012 / METİN ARSLAN , ANKARA
The Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) has permitted an
investigation of Erkan Canak -- a former judge presiding over the case
of the assassination of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink -- for
allegations of corruption and bribery.
Canak, former judge of the İstanbul 14th High Criminal Court, who now
presides over a court in Sakarya, will be tried at the 5th Criminal
Chamber of the Supreme Court of Appeals in İstanbul. If the court
finds him guilty, Canak will be forced to resign. Canak is accused of
`acting in a way that has shaken the trust and respect required by his
position, engaging in corruption and taking bribes,' according to the
HSYK.
In 2010 Canak's telephone conversation with another judge, Ali Hadi
Emre, was wiretapped. In the conversation Canak complained that he had
received threats from Kudbettin Avcı, a lawyer, over the release of a
drug baron from prison. Canak told Emre that Avcı threatened to spread
rumors about him if he refused to release the drug baron.
`If he continues to threaten me, I will go to the Justice Ministry and
tell them about everything. The baron was captured with 200 kilograms
of drugs. How can I release him?' Canak asked, adding: `I have known
him for years. He is my friend. But he says he will complain to the
[Justice Ministry] inspector about me. I have nothing to be afraid of.
But why does he keep harassing me?'
Emre, in response, advised the judge to calm down and promised
everything would be better in the future.
It was later revealed that Canak agreed to accept a bribe from the
drug baron's men to acquit the drug trafficker of the charges. The men
also arranged hotel rooms for Canak and hired prostitutes for him.
On Dec. 13, 2010, the HSYK removed Canak from the İstanbul 14th High
Criminal Court, which was hearing the Dink case, on the grounds that
an earlier Ministry of Justice report alleged that he had close
contacts with suspects in the Ergenekon case, a clandestine
underground network accused of plotting to overthrow the government.
From: Baghdasarian
April 15 2012
Former Dink case judge to be tried for bribery, corruption
0
15 April 2012 / METİN ARSLAN , ANKARA
The Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) has permitted an
investigation of Erkan Canak -- a former judge presiding over the case
of the assassination of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink -- for
allegations of corruption and bribery.
Canak, former judge of the İstanbul 14th High Criminal Court, who now
presides over a court in Sakarya, will be tried at the 5th Criminal
Chamber of the Supreme Court of Appeals in İstanbul. If the court
finds him guilty, Canak will be forced to resign. Canak is accused of
`acting in a way that has shaken the trust and respect required by his
position, engaging in corruption and taking bribes,' according to the
HSYK.
In 2010 Canak's telephone conversation with another judge, Ali Hadi
Emre, was wiretapped. In the conversation Canak complained that he had
received threats from Kudbettin Avcı, a lawyer, over the release of a
drug baron from prison. Canak told Emre that Avcı threatened to spread
rumors about him if he refused to release the drug baron.
`If he continues to threaten me, I will go to the Justice Ministry and
tell them about everything. The baron was captured with 200 kilograms
of drugs. How can I release him?' Canak asked, adding: `I have known
him for years. He is my friend. But he says he will complain to the
[Justice Ministry] inspector about me. I have nothing to be afraid of.
But why does he keep harassing me?'
Emre, in response, advised the judge to calm down and promised
everything would be better in the future.
It was later revealed that Canak agreed to accept a bribe from the
drug baron's men to acquit the drug trafficker of the charges. The men
also arranged hotel rooms for Canak and hired prostitutes for him.
On Dec. 13, 2010, the HSYK removed Canak from the İstanbul 14th High
Criminal Court, which was hearing the Dink case, on the grounds that
an earlier Ministry of Justice report alleged that he had close
contacts with suspects in the Ergenekon case, a clandestine
underground network accused of plotting to overthrow the government.
From: Baghdasarian