Verdict on fake social media posts targeting Muharrem İnce: 'Criminal complaint to be filed'

The hearing at the Ankara 19th High Criminal Court was attended by the non-detained defendants Yaşar and Koçak, as well as their lawyers.

After reading the documents submitted to the case file, the presiding judge gave the floor to the public prosecutor to present their final opinion on the merits.

The prosecutor requested the acquittal of the defendants, stating that the elements of the crime of "aiding an armed terrorist organization without being a member" had not been met. The prosecutor also requested that a criminal complaint be filed with the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against the defendants for the crime of "publicly disseminating misleading information."

Taking the floor, defendant Yaşar requested a verdict in line with the prosecutor's opinion and demanded his acquittal.

DECISION FOR CRIMINAL COMPLAINT

Defendant Koçak also stated that he agreed with the prosecutor's opinion regarding acquittal but argued that he had not made any posts containing disinformation.

Announcing its verdict after the statements of the lawyers, the court ruled for the acquittal of the defendants on the charge of "aiding an armed terrorist organization without being a member."

The court decided that a criminal complaint should be filed against the defendants for the crime of "publicly disseminating misleading information."

FROM THE INDICTMENT

The indictment stated that after the failure of the FETÖ July 15 coup attempt, members and executives of the organization fled abroad through illegal means and attempted to achieve their goals by making posts and spreading disinformation against Turkey on social media from the countries where they were located.

The indictment emphasized that both fake pornographic video footage and a fake bank receipt targeting Memleket Party Chairman and presidential candidate İnce were circulated on social media for the purposes of provocation and threats, and that these images, which were also shared by fugitive FETÖ members to reach a wider audience, were disseminated by the suspects.

In the indictment, it was requested that the defendants, Yaşar and Koçak, be sentenced to 1 to 3 years in prison each for the crime of "aiding an armed terrorist organization without being a member" by knowingly and willingly providing assistance to the organization.

News Source: AA