Arrested Cumhuriyet Accountant İper Released

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Arrested Cumhuriyet daily accountant Emre İper who was among the holders of 11 thousand 480 GSM numbers that Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office reported to have installed ByLock, an encrypted communication software allegedly used among Gülen Community, unknowingly on their cell phones, has been released after 267 days behind bars.

On December 27, Ankara Chief Prosecutor's Office issued a written statement regarding ByLock claimed to be used among those who carried out the July 15 coup attempt and was therefore considered an important piece of evidence in the investigations launched following the July 15 coup attempt.

In its statement, the Chief prosecutor's office reported that 11 thousand 480 GSM numbers were directed to ByLock without knowledge of their users. Some of these users were directed to providers such as Mor Beyin (Purple Brain) considered to have been developed by member of the "Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ)" and thus to ByLock IPs as well, without knowing it.

Cumhuriyet daily's accountant Emre İper, who has been behind bars for 267 days, were among the list as well.

Stating that the list of 11 thousand 480 GSM numbers were submitted to the Prosecutor's Offices and courts, Ankara Chief Prosecutor Yüksel Kocaman said that approximately thousand people who were behind bars due to ByLock, should be released in case there were no other evidence against them.

Ruling on the objections of the attorneys, İstanbul 27th Assize Court decided that İper be released on the condition of judicial control and an international travel ban.

Was behind bars for 267 days despite two expert reports

İper was taken into custody on April 7, 2017 over claims of using ByLock. He was arrested on April 18.

The initial lawsuit that was brought against him on charge of "being a member of the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) was later combined with the main case in Cumhuriyet trial.

Upon demand of the attorneys representing Cumhuriyet daily's employees and executives in the trial, expert Koray Peksayar had examined İper's phone records and reported that "there was no hint that İper had downloaded or installed ByLock on his phone".
Tuncay Beşikçi who wrote the second expert report also had stated that ByLock was not downloaded on İper's cell phone and that he had never used the software. (BK/DG)