An operation was carried out on Sözcü newspaper on 19 May 2016. An arrest warrant was issued for Burak Akbay, Mediha Olgun, Bekir Gökmen Ulu and Yonca Yücekaleli within the scope of “Fethullah Gülen Terrorist Organization / Parallel State Structuring (FETÖ / PDY) investigation”.
While Ulu and Olgun, who were detained for seven days, were arrested, Yücekaleli was released. Olgun was released on 22 September with the imposition of judicial control measure. Ulu was also released on 8 November.
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 organization”; Sözcü newspaper reporter in İzmir Gökmen Ulu, the former web 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.
At the final hearing held on December 27, 2019, the newspaper reporter Gökmen Ulu, the coordinator of the accounting staff Yonca Yücekaleli and Yücel Arı were sentenced to 2 years 11 months, writer Emin Çölaşan and Necati Doğru was sentenced to 3 years 6 months 15 days, Editor in Chief Metin Yılmaz, and newspaper’s website Editor-in-Chief Mustafa Çetin, was sentenced to 3 years and 4 months imprisonment.
The court, which decided to acquit the former responsible manager of the website Mediha Olgun on the grounds that “the crime charged was not committed by the defendant”, decided to separate the file of Burak Akbay.
The red notice and the arrest warrant issued against Burak Akbay were removed on January 13 upon the request of the lawyers.
