Arrest warrant issued for Sözcü newspaper and SZC TV owner Burak Akbay: He was accused of 'aiding FETÖ'

An arrest warrant has been issued for Burak Akbay, the owner of SZC TV and Sözcü Newspaper, who is one of 9 people being tried at the Istanbul 37th High Criminal Court on charges of 'knowingly and willingly aiding FETÖ,' on the grounds that he did not attend the hearings and did not provide his defense.

Burak Akbay, along with 9 others including Emin Çölaşan, Necati Doğru, and Metin Yılmaz, was being tried at the Istanbul 37th High Criminal Court on charges of 'knowingly and willingly aiding FETÖ.'

The case was taken to the Court of Cassation, and in its ruling on November 26, 2024, the court overturned the initial court's decisions and ruled that a retrial was necessary.

COURT DID NOT ACCEPT 'WORKLOAD' EXCUSE

During today's hearing of the case, Burak Akbay's lawyer Erdal Kılbaşoğlu stated that his client could not attend the hearing due to his workload.

Another lawyer, Altar Arıkan, stated that the reversal decision by the 3rd Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation revealed that the crimes alleged against the defendants had not occurred.

The court panel made a decision regarding the hearings that Burak Akbay did not attend due to a lack of defense.

In the assessment, it was stated that Akbay did not attend the hearings and his defense could not be taken, and it was decided by unanimous vote to issue an arrest warrant for the defendant in accordance with Article 199 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CMK).