Reporter Mehmet Baransu and former Managing Editor Murat Şevki Çoban are tried for a news story published by Taraf daily on 28 November 2013, titled “The Decision to End Gülen was Made at the National Security Council (MGK) in 2004” with allegations of “obtaining and securing documents relating to State Security”, “disclosing information that must be kept confidential for reasons relating to the security, or domestic and foreign political interests of the State through press,” and “disclosing documents and information concerning MIT’s (National Intelligence Agency) duties and operations through press”.

The prosecutor had requested each journalist to be sentenced up to 52 years in prison.

On the last hearing held on 24 September, the prosecution requested decision of non-jurisdiction and the case file to be sent to the court with jurisdiction upon submitting that merits of the case fall into the scope of Press Law.

At the hearing held on 24 October 2019, the court decided to send the file to the public prosecutor’s office upon reviewing objections made in terms of duty. The next hearing is on December 4, 2019.

The hearing on June 2 was postponed due to measures taken in relation to the coronavirus pandemic. The next hearing will be on July 17.

At the hearing held on July 17, after Baransu repeated his previous statement, the prosecutor asked the court to convict Çoban and Baransu of “acquiring and disclosing documents related to the security of the state” and “disclosing documents regarding the operations of the National Intelligence Organization.” Trial was adjourned until 13 November.

On November 13, 2020, the attorney of Baransu did not attend the hearing by offering an excuse. Çoban’s attorney requested additional time for the defense as to the accusations. The next hearing will be held on November 23, 2020 (November 13).

At the final hearing of the trial on November 23, 2020, the court has ruled that Mehmet Baransu shall be sentenced to 3 years, 4 months in prison as per the Article 327/1 of the Turkish Criminal Code (TCK), 6 years, 3 months as per the Article 329/1 of the TCK, 4 years, 2 months as per the Article 27/1 of the National Intelligence Organization (MİT) Law and 3 years, 4 months in prison as per the Article 27/3 of the MİT Law. While Baransu has been sentenced to 16 years, 13 months in prison in total, Murat Şevki Çoban has been acquitted of all offenses charged (November 23).