Balyoz release ruling issued by all-woman court

ISTANBUL

The panel of judges at the 4th Heavy Penal Court of Istanbul’s Anatolia Courthouse presiding over the Balyoz trial consisted of three women.

The panel of judges that made the decision paving the way for the release of 230 suspects in the Balyoz (Sledgehammer) trial consisted of three women.

After a Constitutional Court decision on June 18 ruled that the rights of the 230 convicts were violated – referring to the digital data used as evidence throughout the trial as well as the defendants’ testimonies – defense lawyers appealed to the 4th Heavy Penal Court of Istanbul’s Anatolia Courthouse.

The release of the suspects began hours after the June 19 decision. The court is headed by Özlem Karaçam, and Mübeccel Saraçoğlu and Gülperi Güneş are the other two members.

The case was handed to the court after Turkey abolished the special authority courts in March.