Forensic Medicine Institute: Reason of Kantar's Death Unclear

The third hearing related to the death of soldier Uğur Kantar was held before the Girne (Northern Cyprus) Military Court on Friday (17 February). Kantar allegedly died as the result of torture imposed to him at the disciplinary ward of a military prison in Northern Cyprus.

The hearing was attended by un-detained Sergeant Ayhan Şentürk, the only ranked defendant of the case. The court board refrained from arresting Şentürk and postponed the trial to 20 April 2012.

Lawyer Teoman Özkan, joint attorney of the Kantar family, requested the military court decide for lack of jurisdiction and transfer the case to a civil court instead because defendant Şentürk condoned torture.

Özkan said that the military court rejected his demand putting forward that the classification of offence might change. He also reported that the court decided to wait for the results of the subpoenas given to the witnesses.

Criminal complaint about superiors

Lawyer Özkan emphasized that the Ankara Forensic Medicine Institute was not able to determine the reason for Kantar's death. Thereupon, the court ruled to send the file to the Istanbul Forensic Medicine Institute.

The lawyer summarized that they requested a decision for lack of jurisdiction about defendant Şentürk and a criminal complaint about the responsible ranked officers. He continued:

* The statements of witnesses and other torture victims heard at the Friday hearing and in previous sessions directly pointed to Ayhan Şentürk. The defendant himself said that he was in charge of three different tasks and that those who entrusted him with these duties were responsible.

* The joint plaintiff attorneys lodged criminal complaints about all superiors. The court board replied to take the necessary measures in this aspect and postponed the trial to 20 April.

* Only the divisional commander was above Şentürk. There was no other commander in between. The prison was directly subordinate to the divisional commander. (EKN/VK)