New development in the Ayhan Bora Kaplan case! 8 people released, secret witness missing...

Müyesser Yıldız - 12punto.com.tr

The trial of the Ayhan Bora Kaplan criminal organization, involving 61 defendants, 28 of whom are in custody, has continued. The court has ordered the release of 8 defendants.

At the beginning of today's session of the trial held at the Ankara 32nd High Criminal Court, the Presiding Judge announced that the police had conducted an investigation into the accuracy of the statements made by secret witness M7, prepared a folder of documents, and that these had been added to the case file for lawyers to review.

The Judge further explained that the prosecutor's office had sent a letter stating that secret witness M7 could not be brought to the hearing to testify because they had not complied with control measures, adding, "We will suffice with their statements from the investigation phase."

Upon this, the number 1 defendant in the case, Bora Kaplan, asked, "Will we not be able to ask questions?" The Judge replied, "We will, of course, evaluate that." Some defense attorneys also pointed out that this secret witness concerns many people and emphasized that the credibility of M7's testimony has been compromised.

After telling the lawyers, "We will evaluate this," the Judge asked the Prosecutor for their opinion. The Prosecutor requested the continuation of the detention of the incarcerated defendants, the continuation of judicial control measures for the non-custodial defendants, and that the complainants and witnesses be brought to the next hearing.

Announcing the interim decisions, the Presiding Judge stated that the judicial control measure of a travel ban for non-custodial defendants would continue, and then provided information regarding another secret witness, Ü5.

Explaining that they had heard this witness between sessions after the Police Witness Protection Branch Directorate warned that there had been attempts to reveal Ü5's identity, the Judge said that video recordings of these sessions would be provided to lawyers upon request, and that if they had questions, they could submit them in writing to be directed to the secret witness between sessions.

The Judge then announced the decision to release incarcerated defendants Ali Dönmez, Ali Şallı, Ferit Çelik, Muhittin Mert Koçoğlu, Murat Altay, Murat Sağlam, Mustafa Koç, and Oğuz Ercengiz, subject to a travel ban as a judicial control measure, and stated that the trial would continue from May 20-24.

Following the decision, some relatives of the incarcerated defendants reacted to the panel, and some became unwell.