Verdict in 'social media conspiracy' case against Muharrem İnce: Fake bank receipt and sexually explicit images
The verdict has been announced in the trial of 14 defendants accused of sharing social media posts regarding a fake bank receipt created in the names of former CHP member Muharrem İnce and Presidential Advisor Maksut Serim, as well as disseminating fake sexually explicit images targeting İnce.
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Non-custodial defendants Seyfullah T. and Gülsün A., along with the lawyers for the parties, attended the hearing at the Ankara 35th Criminal Court of First Instance.
The judge reminded the parties that the opinion on the merits had been presented in the previous session and gave them the floor for their final statements.
Defense attorneys argued that their clients were being tried for crimes they did not commit and maintained their innocence, requesting their acquittal.
Non-custodial defendants Seyfullah T. and Gülsün A. also stated that they stood by their previous defenses and requested acquittal from the court.
BECAUSE THE DEFENDANTS MADE THE PAYMENT...
Announcing its verdict, the court sentenced defendants Arkan G., Mehmet G., Mustafa Ç., Salim Faruk K., Gülsün A., Kadir A., Murat T., Seyfullah T., Tekin A., and Tülün K. to 2 years and 1 month in prison for the crime of "unlawfully providing or obtaining data."
Furthermore, the court decided to drop the charges of "insult" against Muharrem İnce brought against defendants Mehmet G., Salim Faruk K., Soner Hakkı Ç., Yusuf T., and Mehmet Ali C., on the grounds that the offense is subject to preliminary payment and the defendants had already made the payment.
FROM THE INDICTMENT...
In the indictment prepared by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office as part of the investigation into the fake bank receipt, Muharrem İnce and Maksut Serim are listed as complainants, while Elif Duman and Kerime Oruç are listed as victims.
The indictment had requested prison sentences ranging from 4 years to 9 years and 6 months for each of the defendants on charges of "knowingly using a forged private document," "unlawfully obtaining or disseminating personal data," and "insult via audio, written, or visual message."
On the other hand, files opened against the defendants in different courts were consolidated, bringing the total number of defendants in the case heard at the Ankara 35th Criminal Court of First Instance to 14.