Former Administrators Of Dehap Released From Jail

ANKARA - Former leader of Democratic People's Party (DEHAP) Mehmet Abbasoglu and former Secretary General Nurettin Sonmez, who were imprisoned on charges of forgery in official documents, were released from prison after serving part of their sentence term, sources said on Wednesday. They left Haymana Prison at 06.00 a.m. this morning.
Abbasoglu and Sonmez were accused of forgery in official documents and this way DEHAP could attend November 2002 elections, although it did not complete its organization as required by law.
DEHAP leader Tuncer Bakirhan and some party members met Abbasoglu and Sonmez to bring them to party headquarters.
Bakirhan holding a news conference said that Abbasoglu and Sonmez spent their 10 months in prison unjustly because of a political decision.
Bakirhan added that they would pursue their struggle to restore democracy and peace, together with Abbasoglu and Sonmez.
Ankara High Criminal Court condemned four former DEHAP administrators to 23 months of imprisonment on charge of forgery in official documents, in accordance with the Article No. 342 of Turkish Penal Code.
(GC-ULG) 11.08.2004