Interim ruling announced in Hablemitoğlu case

Defendants Levent Göktaş, Aydın Köstem, Mehmet Narin, Fikret Emek, Ahmet Tarkan Mumcuoğlu, and former intelligence officer Enver Altaylı attended the hearing held at the Ankara 28th High Criminal Court.

The presiding judge gave the floor to the public prosecutor and then to the defendants, emphasizing that they would announce the interim ruling during this session.

Public Prosecutor Zafer Ergün stated that he did not accept the testimonies of witnesses who had no knowledge or experience regarding the incident or who testified under the direction of the parties, and requested that new witnesses be heard.

Subsequently, defendant Enver Altaylı took the floor and stated that he had no requests prior to the interim ruling. Defendant Levent Göktaş requested the lifting of his travel ban for Istanbul, Bursa, Adana, and İzmir, where he has a heavy caseload, in order to practice his profession as a lawyer.

"I WILL ATTEND UNTIL THE END"

Stating that he would not miss the hearings, defendant Fikret Emek said, "If the hearings are to continue, I will attend them until the end. Have no doubt about that. I request that my travel ban be lifted."

"I HAVE A CLEAR CONSCIENCE"

Taking the floor before the interim ruling, defendant Aydın Köstem said, "After my release in May, they only put an electronic tag on my ankle. I request that the tag be removed and the judicial control measures be lifted. Furthermore, I have a clear conscience and I request my acquittal."

Other defendant Mehmet Narin said, "The prosecution has understood that I have no connection or involvement with the murder. In my 21-year career, I have always been shown as an exemplary person.

I reject all allegations against me. I left the TSK (Turkish Armed Forces) in September 2012 with my honor and dignity. My career, which I built with my own efforts, is suffering due to the statements of someone with a criminal past," he said, asserting his innocence. Stating that he did not accept the charges against him, defendant Narin also requested that the court panel lift his travel ban.

Defendant Ahmet Tarkan Mumcuoğlu said, "My family and I have dedicated my entire professional life to the fight against terrorism. Considering the duties I have performed recently, my exposure will put not only me and my family but also our state in a difficult position."

After the statements of the defendants and their lawyers, the court announced its interim ruling, deciding to continue the judicial control measures for the non-detained defendants and to lift the house arrest for defendant Narin that appeared in the system. Ruling that certain individuals should be heard as witnesses, the court decided to reject the requests for a guarantee against arrest made by the lawyer for fugitive defendant Nuri Gökhan Bozkır and adjourned the hearing to March 4, 2024.