Are Missing Evidence Kept on Judial Escrows?

Bakırköy 13^th High Criminal Court continued with "Operation Back to Life" case this morning with plaintiff attorneys requesting an investigation in judicial escrows as no information has yet to be found for 14 years. 

Advocates Güçlü Sevimli, Gülizar Tuncer, Erhan Ergun, Several Balıklaya, Fikret İlkiz and Hasan Fehmi Demir reminded the court that they have made similar requests in the past. 

“On 27 July 2011, we have submitted detailed documents on how officials attempted to obscure evidence, how they vanished most of the crucial evidence (for instance, gun shells) for real, how the investigation has been stuck for 14 years, how their real purpose is to destroy then evidence and help those responsible run away from justice," they wrote. 

Investigation request for sacks 

Plaintiff attorneys requested an investigation of sacks in judicial escrows. 

"The aforementioned 6 sacks and footages sent by the Forensics Institute contain crucial evidence and need to be investigated by a group of experts in an environment where plaintiff attorneys can also attend. We request a date for investigation," they continued. 

High rank military staff "witness”

The statement also included the following observation:

“Even though those who intervened the Bayrampaşa Prison Ward C are known, even though dozens of requests have been made for their identification, even though 4 years have passed since the first request, Gendarmerie authorites have yet to return our request and turn in the name list of those soldiers.”

“High rank military officials like Aytaç Yalman and Osman Özbek must stand trial related to the case, or at least they need to be summoned by the court for their statement as a witness.”

"For all these reasons," attorneys continued, "we are requesting the court to urge Justice Ministry and Gendarmerie authorities to demand all plans, orders, documents, footages, archive registries and reports related to the case." 

Parlimentary investigation records missing 

Attorneys also requested the latest updates with a parliamentary investigation on the Justice and Interior ministers of the time.

Between 19 and 22 December 2000, a simulataneous operation in 20 prisons across Turkey left 28 inmates and 2 soldiers dead, dozens injured. While 6 women were burnt to death in Bayrampaşa Prison, the total casualties turned out 12.

In today's hearing, the court ordered a forced summoning order for Zeki Bingöl, a writer who published a book on the incident. 39 privates will stand their next trial on July 9 at 10pm local time. (AS/BM)