Life in jail sought for Kavala, Alabora

ISTANBUL

Osman Kavala

An Istanbul prosecutor has sought life in prison for 16 suspects including philanthropist Osman Kavala and actor Mehmet Ali Alabora on charges of “attempting to overthrow the government,” state-run Anadolu Agency has reported.   

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office yesterday delivered the indictment against the 16 suspects to Istanbul the 30th Heavy Penalty Court.

Kavala, who has been in custody for more than a year, is accused of links to 2013 Gezi Park protests and the failed coup attempt of July 2016.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has accused Kavala of “financing the terrorists” during the Gezi protests. Erdoğan was then prime minister.                   

Erdoğan has described Kavala as the “representative in Turkey” of Hungary-born American billionaire George Soros and accused him of “using his means to support those trying to tear up this country.” In November last year, Soros’s Open Society Foundation said it would cease activities in Turkey.

Kavala was remanded in pre-trial custody on Nov. 1, 2017. He is chairman of the Anadolu Kultür (Anatolian Culture) foundation.