‘Convicts in Balyoz case innocent

ISTANBUL

Former Chief of Gen. Staff Özkök says his earlier comments were changed.

Former Chief of General Staff Hilmi Özkök said the convicts of the “Balyoz” (Sledgehammer) coup plot case were all innocent, according to a report by daily Cumhuriyet.

“I cannot say that it was not a fair trial,” Hilmi Özkök was earlier reported to have said, adding that decisions to convict soldiers made within the case showed reactions. However, Özkök has now said his statement was edited in a way that altered his original meaning.

 “When they asked me if it was a fair trial or not, I said ‘I cannot say such a thing because I am not a lawyer.’ Then only a part of my statement appeared on the headlines, and its meaning was changed. It was printed as if I said ‘it is fair.’ If [I thought] it was fair, I would directly say that, rather than beating around the bush by saying ‘I cannot say it was not fair,’” Özkök said.