Journalist Saymaz Faces 18 Years Imprisonment

Another trial has been launched against Radikal newspaper reporter İsmail Saymaz on the grounds of publishing questions that were addressed to the Public Chief Prosecutor of Erzincan (north-eastern Anatolia), Erhan Cihaner, when he was in custody. Saymaz stands accused for the "attempt to influence a fair trial" and "violating the secrecy of an investigation". The journalist faces prison sentence of up to nine years in this law suit.

Saymaz is tried based on his article entitled "What they asked Cihaner" published in Radikal newspaper on 18 February. The first hearing will be held at the Bakırköy (Istanbul) 2^nd Criminal Court of First Instance on 23 June.

News about interrogation caused law suit

An investigation into Saymaz has been launched based on the articles entitled "Assassination with a tick, coup of the tea vendors!" published on 12 February, "I don't know Dursun Çiçek, that is your set up" from 20 February, "Did you meet with Dursun Çiçek?" from 22 February and "Is Saldıray Berk the leader of the organization?" from 1 March.

Public prosecutor Pircan Barut Emre is going to determine whether Saymaz "violated the secrecy of the investigation" with his news items and whether he "attempted to influence a fair trial". If another trial should be opened as a result of the investigation, journalist Saymaz and editorial manager Hasan Çakkalkurt may face imprisonment of up to 36 years in total.

Saymaz was asked to reveal his source

At the same time, chief inspector Erdoğan Gökçek of the Ministry of Justice sent Saymaz a letter and asked him to reveal his source for the news article subject of the trial entitled "The prosecutor asked Cihaner about the coup".

The inspector informed journalist Saymaz that he had to reply within 10 days, otherwise he would violate article 257 of the Turkish Criminal Code (TCK).

According to article 12 of the Press Law (no. 5187), "Owners of a periodical publication and editorial mangers cannot be compelled to reveal any sources of their news including the author, information and documents and to give any evidence on the matter". The law recognizes the journalists' right for reassurance of their sources.

Saymaz's book "The postmodern Jihad", concerned with the Erzurum-Erzincan connections of the Ergenekon investigation, was published last week by Kalkedon Publishing.

Trial for reporting about İbrahim Şahin's statement

Moreover, Saymaz will be tried under allegations of "violating the secrecy of the investigation" and the "attempt to influence a fair trial" on the grounds of an article questioning the role of former Special Forces Department Deputy Chief and Ergenekon defendant İbrahim Şahin.

The first hearing of this case is scheduled for 29 April at the Bakırköy (Istanbul) 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance. (EÖ/VK)