ANKARA - Turkish Supreme Court of Appeals decided to hold appeals hearing of four former Democracy Party (DEP) deputies on July 8, sources said on Tuesday.
Sources told A.A correspondent that the Supreme Court of Appeals Criminal Department decided to hear the appeals hearing of former DEP deputies including Leyla Zana, Hatip Dicle, Selim Sadak and Orhan Dogan on July 8.
The Supreme Court of Appeals Chief Prosecutor's Office Monday called for the quashing of sentences against these four former DEP deputies.
Ankara State Security Court (DGM) had upheld 15-year-imprisonment sentences ruled out against Zana, Dogan, Dicle and Sadak in 1994.
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled in 2001 that the first trial of former DEP deputies in 1994 was not fair and independent since a military judge was among the court delegation. ECHR also stated that the rights of the suspects to use their time and make use of opportunities to prepare their defense were violated.
Lawyers of former DEP deputies asked for a re-trial on February 4, 2003 as a new article was added to the Code of Criminal Procedure (CMUK), and this demand was unanimously accepted.
Military judge did not take his place in the court delegation conducting the second trial of former DEP deputies.
The Supreme Court of Appeals Chief Prosecutor's Office called for the quashing of the sentences against four former DEP deputies since it saw some deficiencies and mistakes during the second trial.
If the Criminal Department reverses the verdict of Ankara DGM, four former DEP deputies will be re-tried. But this time, heavy criminal courts dealing with organized crimes which are expected to replace DGMs will hear the case.
If the Department upholds the decision of the local court, the convicts have the right to ask for correction of the verdict.
In case the Supreme Court of Appeals Chief Prosecutor's Office doesn't agree with the Criminal Department's decision to uphold the decision, it can object to the verdict in the Supreme Court of Appeals Criminal General Board before the file is sent to the local court.
In this case, the decision of the General Board will be final.
By March 2005, four former DEP deputies will have served all their sentence.
(BRC-AÖ) 08.06.2004