Journalist Can Dündar declared fugitive in the case of MİT trucks

The Istanbul 14th High Criminal Court initiated the process of being considered a fugitive against Cumhuriyet Newspaper former Editor-in-Chief Can Dündar, who was on trial for publishing images and news on the stopping of the MİT (Turkish National Intelligence Organization) trucks, which allegedly sent weapons to ISIS. If Dündar doesn’t attend court within 15 days, courts decided to confiscate all his property.

The 9th hearing of the trial of journalist Can Dündar, whose 5 years and 10 months imprisonment was overturned by the Supreme Court, was held at the Istanbul 14th High Criminal Court. According to the news in the DHA, in the hearing was held closed to the public, Article 247/1 of CMK [Criminal Courts Law] was implemented and decided in court that the ruling fugitive conditions were met on the grounds that "it was understood that he was in a foreign country in order to ensure that the prosecution was inconclusive". Can Dündar, whose extradition was requested from Germany at the request of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

The court, posted a newspaper advertisement at the residence address of Dündar, warned that "if it does not arrive within 15 days, a decision to be deemed illegal will be made and a decision to confiscate the movable, immovable and bank deposit accounts registered on it as per Article 248 of the CMK and the receivable accounts of third parties" was decided.

Journalist Can Dündar was sentenced to 5 years and 10 months in prison by the Istanbul 14th High Criminal Court on May 6 2016, on the charge of "providing and disclosing information that should remain confidential to the security of the state". The appealed case was quashed in the 16th Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court of Appeals decided that a judgment should be made on the grounds of "providing information that should remain confidential for the purpose of espionage", which stipulates a prison sentence of 15 to 20 years against Can Dündar. Thereupon, journalist Can Dündar's trial started again. (EVRENSEL DAILY)