Verdict in the FETÖ case involving Ogün Samast: Case dismissed due to statute of limitations

In his defense against the opinion on the merits during the hearing, defendant Ali Fuat Yılmazer stated, "My trial in this case has been procedural. If it weren't for my efforts, Ogün Samast would not have been caught; he was caught in Samsun, as is known. They are hanging flags and giving Ogün Samast a hero image.

Those who created this image are also known, but they are not here right now. They did not become convicts in this case. We tried to catch this man, and we exposed these murderers.

I am paying the price for this, the price for dealing with this gang. I did not cover anything up; on the contrary, if we had not intervened, they would have covered everything up," he said.

SAMAST REQUESTED ACQUITTAL

Asked for his final words at the hearing, Ogün Samast stated that he did not accept the accusations against him and requested his acquittal from the court. The other defendants also requested their acquittal in their final words.

CASE AGAINST 7 DEFENDANTS DISMISSED

Announcing its verdict, the court ruled that the cases against defendants Ogün Samast, Yasin Hayal, Erhan Tuncel, Ersin Yolcu, Zeynel Abidin Yavuz, Tuncay Uzundal, and Ahmet İskender be dismissed on the grounds that the statute of limitations had expired. Furthermore, it was ruled that the judicial control measure in the form of a travel ban for the defendants would continue.

LIFE SENTENCES FOR 2 DEFENDANTS

The court panel sentenced defendants Ali Fuat Yılmazer and Ramazan Akyürek to life imprisonment for the crime of "violating the constitution," while sentencing defendant Adem Sağlam to 6 years, 10 months, and 15 days in prison for "being a member of an armed terrorist organization." Additionally, it ruled for the acquittal of defendant Sağlam on charges of "violating the constitution" and "causing death by negligence of a certain duty."

It was ruled that the files of fugitive defendants Faruk Sarı and Yahya Öztürk be separated.

SAMAST MADE NO STATEMENT

Samast, who came to the Trabzon Courthouse to connect to the hearing at the Istanbul 14th High Criminal Court via the Audio and Video Information System (SEGBİS), remained at the courthouse for approximately 5 hours. After the hearing where the statute of limitations decision was announced, Samast left the courthouse without making a statement.

HE HAD BEEN RELEASED FROM THE HRANT DINK MURDER CASE

Ogün Samast, the triggerman in the Dink murder, had been sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment by the Istanbul 2nd Juvenile High Criminal Court on July 25, 2011, for his act against Hrant Dink on the charge of "premeditated murder." Noting that Samast had completed his 16th year but had not completed his 17th year at the time of the incident, the court reduced Samast's sentence by one-third to 21 years and 6 months.

The court, which also gave Samast a 2-year prison sentence and a 900 lira judicial fine for the crime of "carrying an unlicensed weapon," converted this sentence to 1 year and 4 months in prison and a 600 lira judicial fine, taking into account his age at the time of the incident.

On the other hand, while in prison, Samast was sentenced to 5 years, 1 month, and 13 days in prison within the scope of a case filed by the Silivri 3rd Criminal Court of First Instance on the grounds that he attacked prison guards.

Samast was released from the Bolu F-Type High-Security Closed Penal Execution Institution on November 15 under conditional release.

News Source: 12punto