The executives and staff of Sözcü newspaper have been standing trial for terror [FETÖ] related charges at İstanbul 37th High Criminal Court. The owner of newspaper Burak Akbay is being charged with “leading a terrorist organization” and “propagandising for a terrorist organisation”; Sözcü newspaper reporter in İzmir Gökmen Ulu, Sözcü’s website’s former News Editor Mediha Olgun, Chief Financial Officer Yonca Yücekaleli are on trial for allegedly “knowingly aiding an armed terrorist organization without being a part member of its hierarchical structure”.
The court rejected requests of Olgun and Ulu for the travel ban to be lifted and waits for the execution of the arrest warrant of Burak Akbay.
At the hearing held on October 28, the court did not give its final verdict on the charges and adjourned the hearing to 27 December.
On December 27, the 37th High Criminal Court of İstanbul has ruled that Emin Çölaşan and Necati Doğru shall be sentenced to 3 years, 6 months, 15 days; Mustafa Çetin and Metin Yılmaz to 3 years, 4 months; Yücel Arı, Gökmen Ulu and Yonca Yücekaleli to 2 years, 1 month of imprisonment for “knowingly aiding an armed terrorist organization without being a part member of its hierarchical structure”.
On October 13, 2020, the 27th Penal Chamber of the İstanbul Regional Court of Justice, the upper court, has upheld the prison sentences of 3 years, 6 months, 15 days given to Emin Çölaşan and Necati Doğru, the prison sentences of 3 years, 4 months given to Mustafa Çetin and Metin Yılmaz and the prison sentences of 2 years, 1 month given to Yücel Arı, Gökmen Ulu and Yonca Yücekaleli on charge of “willingly and knowingly aiding the FETÖ”. The file will be sent to the Supreme Court of Appeals (October 13).
