Tensed Discussion between Defendant Özkan and President Judge Şengün

The combined second and third indictment of the trial about the clandestine "Ergenekon terror organization" was held at the Istanbul 13^th High Criminal Court yesterday (7 September). During the hearing a discussion between President Judge Köksal Şengün and detained defendant Tuncay Özkan created tension in the court room.

Starting point of the discussion was Tuncay's request: "I want to learn what my crime is". Tuncay is facing a double fold life sentence in solitary confinement without parole and another sentence between 16 and 80 years.

Şengün: This is not a place for applause

According to Ntvmsnbc.com, when the audience applauded Özkan President Judge Şengün called the gendarmerie to have the audience not belonging to the defendants' families removed from the court room.

Özkan raised from his seat to object this order and continued the discussion with the judge. Eventually, Şengün ordered Özkan to leave the court room.

During the discussion Şengün asked Özkan to sit down again and said:"This is not the place for applause. Raising the blood pressure does not help anybody. Would you please sit down? The attitude you are showing is not correct". Şengün adjourned the hearing when Özkan continued to argue. The president judge had already experienced applause from Özkan's supporters in the audience in the previous hearing on 20 July. Şengün gave a last warning and called the gendarmerie into the court room.

49 detained and 55 un-detained defendants apeared before the court

49 of the 53 detained defendants appeared before the court for the combined second and third indictment. With another 55 un-detained defendants the total number of defendants for this indictment adds up to 108. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Haberal, founder and rector of Başkent University and owner of Başkent hospital and television channel 'Kanal B',  Levent Ersöz, retired general, Prof. Dr. Fatih Hilmioğlu, former rector of Malatya University and Fahri Kepek did not attend the hearing.

The hearing took place at the Silivri campus of the Criminal and Enforcement Institution. 32 of the 55 un-detained defendants attended the hearing, among them retired generals Hurşit Tolon, Tuncer Kılınç and Kemal Yavuz, Prof. Dr. Kemal Gürüz as former chair of the Higher Education Council (YÖK), journalist and writer Yalçın Küçük, Prof. Dr. Rıza Ferit Bernay, former rector of 19 May University and former rector of Uludağ University Prof. Dr. Mustafa Abbas Yurtkuran.

The identity of İbrahim Şahin, former deputy chair of the Special Operations Office, could not be confirmed because Şahin suffers from hearing problems and did not bring his hearing aid to the court hearing. President Judge Şengün told him with gestures to take his seat again.

While confirming the other defendant's identities Judge Şengün ordered journalist and writer Yalçın Küçük to take off his characteristic fur cap in the court room. Küçük appeared before the court with a red scarf. He is charged with "Abolishing or preventing the National Assembly from its duty" and with "Abolishing or preventing the government from its duty". Küçük is facing a double fold life sentence in solitary confinement without parole. (EÖ/VK)