Ailing Ergenekon convict transferred to hospital for medical report

ISTANBUL

Fatih Hilmioğlu, a former rector of Malatya University who was sentenced to 23 years for involvement in the Ergenekon coup plot case. DHA photo

An Ergenekon convict diagnosed with stage three liver cancer has been transferred to hospital for a medical report Jan. 30.

A number of politicians, including President Abdullah Gül and main opposition leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, had urged that a solution be found to let Fatih Hilmioğlu, a former rector of Malatya University who was sentenced to 23 years for involvement in the coup plot case, receive the treatment he needs.

Meanwhile, Hilmioğlu’s lawyers have filed an individual application to the Turkish Constitutional Court, arguing that his imprisonment breached his right to life. 

The fresh medical report will be issued as a result of this application, said Hayati Hilmioğlu, brother and lawyer of the ailing convict.

“We expect that a report will be issued in 10 days,” he added.

Last week, President Gül told reporters that he had given instructions to the relevant authorities to have Hilmioğlu tried without detention, as he is currently appealing his conviction. However, Gül added that he would be unable to intervene until he received the medical report.

The statement prompted Kılıçdaroğlu to call on Gül to use his authority to speed up the process, stressing that politics should be “put aside” for this case.