Trial of İlyas Salman for 'insulting the President' continues: Up to 4 years and 8 months in prison

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office had filed a lawsuit against film actor İlyas Salman for allegedly insulting the President, based on his statement, "I do not consider Tayyip Erdoğan worthy of the presidency. Because he is a cheap man."

The trial of Salman for the crime of 'publicly insulting the President,' which carries a potential sentence of 1 year and 2 months to 4 years and 8 months in prison, continued. The court ruled that the case file be sent to the duty High Criminal Court for the review of the request for the judge's recusal.

RESOLUTION OF OUTSTANDING ISSUES

At the hearing held at the Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance, the lawyer for the non-detained defendant İlyas Salman and the lawyer for President and AKP Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan were present. It was stated during the hearing that Salman's lawyer had submitted a petition requesting the judge's recusal. The lawyers for the complainant and the defendant, when given the floor, requested that the file be sent to the High Criminal Court for the evaluation of the recusal request. The Public Prosecutor, asked for his opinion during the hearing, requested the resolution of outstanding issues.

The file was sent to the High Criminal Court for the review of the 'judge's recusal' request. Announcing its interim decision, the court ruled that the file be sent to the duty High Criminal Court for the review of the recusal request and adjourned the hearing.

News Source: İHA