Step toward 'restriction' after IMM hearing that lasted only 7 minutes: Prosecutor's office accepts

CHP Istanbul Deputy Turan Taşkın Özer sat in the lawyers' section during today's session of the IMM case, and the hearing, which lasted only 7 minutes following the tension in the courtroom, was adjourned until tomorrow. Following this, the Istanbul 40th High Criminal Court wrote a new memorandum to the prosecutor's office requesting that the number of people attending the hearing be restricted. The prosecutor's office accepted this request.

The IMM case, which began last week, was tense once again today.

The presiding judge of the court, who arrived in the courtroom, said, "A deputy is sitting in the lawyers' section; please move to the spectator section."

Upon this, CHP Istanbul Deputy Turan Taşkın Özer stated that he was a lawyer. When the judge asked if he had a power of attorney, Özer stated that he was observing the hearing.

The presiding judge asked, "You can observe from the spectator section and take your notes from there. We start every day with a problem. We have many detainees. We are trying to take defense statements; we cannot continue with a crisis every day. Let's move to the spectator section. What is your status right now?" to which Özer replied, "The indictment is open in front of me, I am taking notes. Remove me by force."

The judge stated, "We can conduct a proper trial if everyone is in their place. You can sit in the spectator section as a legal professional. We have reserved the necessary space for deputies. I cannot start the trial this way."

ENDED IN 7 MINUTES

The presiding judge adjourned the hearing after Özer did not move to the section reserved for spectators.

After the recess, the court panel did not return to the courtroom. It was not the panel, but the bailiff who announced to the spectators in the hall that the hearing had been adjourned until tomorrow.

Thus, the hearing, which started tensely in the morning, was adjourned until tomorrow after a duration of 7 minutes.

REQUEST SENT TO PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE FOR NEW MEASURES

Following the hearing, where similar arguments took place last week, the Istanbul 40th High Criminal Court, which is hearing the case, wrote a new memorandum to the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

In the memorandum, it was requested that necessary measures be taken regarding access to the courtroom in order to "ensure the trial is conducted in a healthy manner, that the defendants can complete their defenses, and that judicial activities can be carried out in accordance with procedural rules."

In the court's letter, it was noted that the defense rights of the defendants must be observed within the scope of the European Convention on Human Rights, the Constitution, the Criminal Procedure Code (CMK), and relevant legislation provisions.

In this context, it was stated that it would be appropriate to admit only the defendants and their defense counsel with whom they have a power of attorney relationship, the complainants and their attorneys, members of the press who wish to follow the trial, and one first or second-degree relative of the detained defendants to the sixth session of the first hearing of the case.

The court requested that necessary measures be taken to ensure that persons other than those listed are not admitted to the courtroom.

The prosecutor's office accepted the court's request in question.

LETTER FROM THE CHIEF PUBLIC PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE TO THE GENDARMERIE

The Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, in line with the court's request, wrote a letter to the Istanbul Provincial Gendarmerie Command regarding security measures.

The letter stated that the court's interim decision regarding the course of the trial, the order of the courtroom, and the participants should be implemented, that measures in accordance with the reported restriction should be taken within the framework of the legislation, that the letter from the Silivri District Governorship should also be taken into account, that utmost care should be taken to ensure the hearing is not interrupted by noise or behavior at the campus perimeter and the entrance of the building allocated for the courtroom, and that instructions should be obtained from the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding actions that may constitute a crime.