Çeber Torture Case Verdict Sets Landmark

Engin Çeber became subject to "aggravated" torture under police detention and in his confinement in Metris Prison, the verdict said.

Guards Selahattin Apaydın and Sami Ergazi and senior prison officer from Metris Prison were sentenced to life in prison. The forensics doctor Yemliha Söylemez were sentenced to a prison term of 3 years 1 month and 15 days.

Two additional police officers and one military officer were each sentenced to prison terms of two years and six months for torturing Çeber. The sentence for police officers were tripled by the judge.

Other defendants Murat Çise, Öncay Bozo and Yavuz Uzun received sentence to a prison term of four years and two months.

Defendant Nihat Kızılkaya was released considering his 2 years long detention.

"Defendants Ergazi and Apaydın resulted in the death of Çeber from brain  hemorrhage after their aggravated torture and beating with metal bars," the verdict said. "Senior officer Karaosmanoğlu was convicted for torture carried out by guards under his command, for having known about the torture, and for having failed to stop it."

The verdict also warned that similar verdict might arise in future cases.

"The verdict will be a model for future cases"

Taylan Tanay, attorney of Çeber family, reminded that the verdict made history in Turkey with sentences not being on the juridical lower limit.

"Senior officer Karaosmanoğlu was not directly involved in the act of torture. He was only in charge of the torturers and he could prevent this from happening. Now he received a life sentence. This verdict makes history and it might be a model for future cases. Even higher rank officers might be charged later on. It is a crucial landmark to prevent torture in Turkey."

According to human rights activists, the verdict had its perils as well: Formerly received life sentence for torture, a guardian was released after serving in prison for 2 years and 6 months.

What happened?

Police in Istanbul arrested Engin Çeber on 28 September 2008 after he took part in a protest and distributed a political magazine called Yürüyüş.

Police officers and prison guards allegedly ill-treated him in custody, resulting in his death from head injuries on 10 October 2008, three days after being transferred to hospital from Istanbul’s Metris Prison.

An Istanbul court prosecuted 60 suspects including 39 guardians, 3 prison supervisors, 13 police officers, 4 military officers and 1 forensics doctor.

The first trial in the case concluded in June 2010 when the court found four of the officials guilty of causing death through torture, and handed down life sentences.

But in late 2011, Turkey’s Supreme Court of Appeals used legal technicalities as a basis for overturning the ruling and ordering a re-trial which began in February this year. (AS)