9 Defendants Along With Gürüz Released Pending Trial

Ankara 13th High Criminal Court released 9 defendants including former Higher Education Institution (YÖK) Chairman Kemal Gürüz pending a trial in February 28 case. 

According to an article by Mesut Hasan Benli in Radikal newspaper, the list of released defendants include: Hikmet Köksal (former Ground Forces Chief), Ahmet Çörekçi (former Air Force Chief), Ilhan Kılıç (former secretary of National Security Council), Kemal Gürüz (former Higher Education Institution), Hakkı Kılınç, Izzettin İyigün, Abdullah Kılıçarslan, Çetin Saner and Kamuran Orhon (retired generals).

Charged with ousting Turkey’s first islamist-led Refah-Yol government in 1997, 103 defendants including 36 in jail are facing life sentence. 

The number of arrested defendants dropped to 27 after the releases. 

Ankara 13th High Criminal Court also issued an international travel ban and judiciary control measures against the defendants who were released due to age and health conditions. (EKN/BM)

* Photo credit: Cem Öksüz

* Click here to read the original article in Turkish.