Journalist Kara Stands Trial for Five Cases

Kara, the owner of the newspaper Datca News, stood trial for 5 cases. The prosecutor demanded Karas acquittal in the case he was being sued for wrong address declaration. The hearings were postponed because lawyer Apaydin was not present in court.

Erol Önderoğlu

Sinan Kara, the owner or the local newspaper, "Datca News," stood trial for cases opened by Datca's local governor Savas Tuncer, Datca mufti Osman Aytekin, and Meka Construction owner Mehmet Karadag, and two other cases for "wrong address declaration."

Trials were postponed

Kara's lawyer did not attend the trial because of health reasons. Judge Suat Arslan, despite objections by lawyer Nuray Musluoglu, postponed the hearing till May 5.

Journalist Kara was sued by local governor Tuncer and mufti Aytekin for "insulting," by Karadag for "threatening," and was sued by the local governorship twice for "wrong address declaration."

Prosecutor demanded acquittal

In the "wrong address declaration" case, prosecutor Mehmet Sirin Acar demanded Kara's acquittal.

Kara, who did not have a lawyer present, said he wanted to use his right to keep silent and said he would defend himself in the presence of a lawyer.

13 files at the Court of Cassation

Thirteen cases about journalist Kara are pending an outcome at the Court of Cassation. He was sentenced to eight years and six months in prison in these cases by lower courts. Kara served 44 days in prison some time ago because he "did not give the local governor two copies of a newspaper." (NK/EA/NM)

Erol Önderoğlu

[email protected]

all articles of the author

İstanbul Üniversitesi Fransız Filolojisi Bölümü'nden mezun. 1996'da muhabiri olduğu uluslararası Sınır Tanımayan Gazeteciler (RSF) örgütünün Türkiye temsilcisi olarak çalışıyor. 1999'dan beri İPS İletişim Vakfı'nın projesi olan bianet sitesinde, Hukuki Destek Masası koordinatörü, ifade özgürlüğü editörü ve yayın yönetmeni olarak çalıştı. 4.800'den fazla imzalı haber ve makalesi bulunuyor. Bizim Gazete ve Güncel Hukuk dergisi için haber ve makaleler yazdı. Halen bianet'te Medya Gözlem Raporları'nı hazırlıyor.