The Istanbul 10^th High Criminal Court concerned with the "Sledgehammer" ('Balyoz') Coup Plan" issued arrest warrants for 163 people including high rank Turkish military commanders such as Naval Forces Commander Admiral Özden Örnek, former Air Force Commander General İbrahim Fırtına and retired General Ergin Saygun.

Other top officers affected of the arrest warrants are the former 1^st Army Commander ret. General Çetin Doğan and General Nejat Bek besides ret. General Engin Alan as the former Head of the General Staff Special Warfare Department. Both Doğan and Bek did not attend the hearing on Friday (11 February).

The "Sledgehammer" ('Balyoz') coup plan was plotted by a group of people within the armed forces in 2002/03. It was aimed at creating disorder in the country by terrorist actions, which should eventually trigger a coup.

Prosecutor Savaş Kırbaş demanded the arrest of 186 people at the Friday hearing held at the premises of the Silivri Prison. However, the court decided to release arrest warrants for 163 people. Reasons for the arrests were new evidence and Article 100 of the Law on Criminal Procedures (CMK) (Grounds of Arrest with a Warrant). The decision was given by President Judge Ömer Diken.

The arrests are based on the result of a search at the Gölcük Fleet Command on 6 December 2010 and on the potential likelihood that the accused people might conceal evidence. 43 folders were found hidden in bags under the floor and then added to the case file as additional evidence.

After the court had announced its decision, the defendants sang a march from the military academy in unison. The court asked the present un-detained defendants to remain in the court room.

According to the NTVmsnbc.com news website, the arrested military officers on active duty were brought to the Hasdal Military Prison whereas the retired officers underwent a health check at the Metris Prison and were transferred to the Silivri Prison on Saturday (12 February).

Subsequent to the search in Gölçük, the prosecutor added two documents dated 25 December 2002 and 3 March 2003 to the file as "new data". These documents were added as evidence that the Sledgehammer plan was not only a seminar but designed to be implemented.

The 1^st Army Command was allegedly going to apply a five-step action plan in the scope of a seminar attended by 196 soldiers on 5-7 March 2003. These steps included activities of the Intelligence, preparing the ground for an intervention, the actual military intervention, establishing a National Reconciliation Government and elections.

A total of 195 active and retired military officers are currently tried in the scope of the Sledgehammer case for preparing a plan to overthrow the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government. The trial will be continued on 14 March. (EÖ/VK)