An indictment has been prepared against journalists Murat Ağırel and İsmail Saymaz due to their remarks on a television program regarding a fund investigation. The indictment requests up to 14 years and 10 months in prison for each of the two journalists.
It was stated that the investigation was launched upon the complaint of Minister of Trade Ömer Bolat. In the indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office Press Crimes Investigation Bureau, the statements made by Ağırel and Saymaz on the "Gazeteci Masası" (Journalist's Desk) program broadcast on Sözcü TV on October 7 were cited as the basis for the accusations.
The prosecution has requested that the journalists be punished for the crimes of "publicly insulting a public official due to their duty," "slander," "publicly disseminating misleading information," and "unlawfully disclosing or obtaining personal data."
The indictment alleges that the journalists' statements linking Minister Bolat to the fund investigation were not supported by concrete information or documents. The sharing of investment information belonging to Bolat was also evaluated within the scope of unlawful disclosure of personal data.
It was reported that Ağırel and Saymaz denied the accusations in their statements to the prosecutor's office. If the indictment is accepted, the trial process for the two journalists will begin.
News Source: 12punto
