Journalist Kara Stands Trial for Five Cases

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)