The first hearing of the two Dink cases that are joined will be held today. At the hearings that will be held between April 19 and 21, 34 suspects, 8 of them being arrested, will stand trial together for the first time.
Public officials who are responsible for Dink murder started to be tried. The trials will last for 3 days. These public officials will stand trial for the first time. 34 people, 8 of them being jailed pending trial, will be heard.
At the hearing, 26 public officials, including the current Chief of Security General Directorate Intelligence Branch Engin Dinç, former Istanbul Provincial Police Chief Celalettin Cerrah, former Chief of Security General Directorate Intelligence Branch Ramazan Akyürek, former İstanbul Intelligence Branch Director Ali Fuat Yılmazer, former Chief of Istanbul Police Directorate Intelligence Branch Ahmet İlhan Güler, former Trabzon Provincial Police Chief Reşat Altay and former Istanbul Intelligence Branch Chief Sabri Uzun will stand trial.
Former Trabzon Provincial Police Chief Reşat Altay, who was in office at the time of murder, and former Chief of Istanbul Police Directorate Intelligence Branch Ahmet İlhan Güler, who was in office at the time of murder, will be tried with the request of 20-25 years of prison sentence; they are charged with murder by omission. Former Istanbul Provincial Police Chief Celalettin Cerrah and former Istanbul Intelligence Branch Chief Sabri Uzun will stand trial are charged with official misconduct.
Former Chief of Security General Directorate Intelligence Branch Ramazan Akyürek and former İstanbul Intelligence Branch Director Ali Fuat Yılmazer are charged with premeditated murder and they will be tried with the request of aggravated life imprisonment.
The cases are joined
The case against the public officials is joined with the main case that is tried by Istanbul 5th High Penal Court.
Ogün Samast, Erhan Tuncel, Yasin Hayal, Ahmet İskender, Ersin Yolcu, Tuncay Uzundal, Zeynel Abidin Yavuz and Osman Hayal are other suspects.
Engin Dinç won't be present at the hearing
Current Chief of Security General Directorate Intelligence Branch Engin Dinç presented an excuse to the court and won't be attending the trials. He is also charged with murder by omission.
Arrested public officials
Last year, police officers Muhittin Zenit and Özkan Mumcu, who were serving in Trabzon Trabzon Police Directorate at the time of murder, were arrested on January 13; and on January 18, Ercan Demir, who was serving in Trabzon Intelligence Branch at the time murder, was arresred while he was serving as the police chief in Cizre.
On March, Ramazan Akyürek was arrested as part of Dink case. He was already arrested as part of another case against him.
On May 28, Ali Fuat Yılmazer was arrested.
As part of the main case, Ogün Samast, Yasin Hayal ana Ersin Yolcu are arrested.
Ahmet İskender is a fugitive.
