Sentences rained down on 'Ergenekon plot' judges: One judge arrested in the courtroom

During the hearing held at the 8th Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation, acting as the court of first instance, non-detained defendant Hüsnü Çalmuk and some complainants were present, while a video conference connection was established with defendant Mehmet Murat Yönder, who is detained for another crime, from the prison where he is held.

After the documents added to the case file were read, the public prosecutor, when asked for their opinion, requested that the defendants be punished in accordance with the previously announced final opinion.

After the final statements of the present defendants were taken, the hearing was adjourned for a verdict.

4 CONVICTIONS, 4 ARREST ORDERS

The 8th Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation decided to separate the files of the fugitive defendants Sedat Sami Haşıloğlu, Hadi Çağdır, Fikret Seçen, and Zekeriya Öz, as well as the defendants Ercan Fırat, Nihat Taşkın, and Alpaslan Uz, whose trials are ongoing on charges of "membership in an armed terrorist organization."

The Chamber sentenced defendants Hasan Hüseyin Özese, Fatih Mehmet Uslu, and Nihat Topal to 2 years and 3 months each for the crime of "chain-linked misconduct in office," and to 20 years and 3 months each for "depriving individuals of their liberty in a chain-linked manner for terrorist purposes" regarding the defendants tried in the Ergenekon case, totaling 22 years and 6 months in prison for each.

The court sentenced defendant Hüsnü Çalmuk to 20 years and 3 months in prison for the crime of "depriving individuals of their liberty in a chain-linked manner for terrorist purposes," and to 1 year in prison for the crime of "misconduct in office."

The Chamber acquitted defendants Mehmet Ali Pekgüzel, Mehmet Murat Dalkuş, and Mehmet Murat Yönder of the charged crimes.

It was decided that the former judges who were sentenced, Hasan Hüseyin Özese, Fatih Mehmet Uslu, Nihat Topal, and Hüsnü Çalmuk, should be arrested.