Trial of journalist Can Tanrıyar and fugitive Muhammed Yakut, sought via Interpol red notice, continues

The trial of Can Tanrıyar, his wife Tamar Tanrıyar, and Muhammed Yakut, who is sought internationally via an Interpol red notice, continued today. The defendants face up to 11 years and 3 months in prison on charges of attempted extortion.

The hearing at the Istanbul 38th High Criminal Court was attended by non-detained defendants Hüseyin Can Tanrıyar and Tamar Tanrıyar, as well as the lawyers for both parties.

Speaking at the hearing, the lawyers for the complainants stated that the witnesses who had been ordered to testify did not appear because defendant Tanrıyar had published negative news reports about them.

Can Tanrıyar noted that the complainants' lawyers had filed a criminal complaint against him regarding the proverb he used during the first hearing: "The brazen thief blames the homeowner."

"WE ARE FACING A GANG"

Explaining that Cüneyt Sivri, one of the witnesses who did not appear in court, is the security manager for complainant Metin Güneş, Tanrıyar alleged that the complainants wanted to seize control of his own company. Tanrıyar stated, "My only request in this trial is this: we are facing a gang, and if nothing is done about them, you will not be able to find any of them in Turkey. We should be the ones in the position of the complainant."

Defendant Tamar Tanrıyar also stated that they had not published negative news about the witnesses, requested that the court issue an order for the witnesses to be brought in by force, and asked for the travel ban against her to be lifted.

The court panel issued an order for some witnesses to be brought in by force and adjourned the hearing.

FROM THE INDICTMENT

The indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office states that there was a debt agreement of nearly 7.5 million dollars between the complainants, Muhammed Abdulkadir Güneş and Metin Güneş, and the defendants. It notes that an investigation was launched against the defendants for "attempted extortion by more than one person" after the complainants refused to waive their claims.

The indictment alleges that in February and March 2023, Can Tanrıyar, acting on Yakut's instructions, called the complainants, witness Fevzi Siverek, and their workplace to issue threats, and that defendant Yakut also insulted and threatened the complainants in videos he published.

The indictment states that Yakut committed the crime of "unlawfully obtaining or disseminating personal data" on April 18, 2023, by publishing the complainant's address information in the United Kingdom.

The indictment further notes that defendant Yakut sent threatening videos he recorded about Metin Güneş to complainant Muhammed Abdulkadir Güneş via mobile phone, and that a separate investigation is being conducted against the defendants regarding these videos.

The indictment records that an arrest warrant has been issued for defendant Yakut, who was determined to have gone abroad on June 6, 2023, on charges of "attempted extortion by more than one person" and "unlawfully obtaining or disseminating personal data." It notes that he is sought via an Interpol red notice and that an extradition request has been prepared for Germany, where he is believed to be living.

The indictment requests that defendants Muhammed Yakut, Hüseyin Can Tanrıyar, and Tamar Tanrıyar be sentenced to between 2 years and 6 months and 11 years and 3 months in prison for the crime of "attempted extortion by more than one person."

It also states that a decision of non-prosecution was issued for Anılcan Tanrıyar and Muhammed Nur Ensari regarding charges of "targeting individuals involved in counter-terrorism efforts," "attempted extortion by more than one person," "unlawfully obtaining or disseminating personal data," and "threats."