Court adjourns hearing to November in Doğan Media Center raid case on night of failed coup attempt

ISTANBUL

A court has postponed to Nov. 6 the hearing of the case into the raid on the Doğan Media Center in Istanbul on the night of last year’s failed coup attempt.

The Istanbul 27th High Criminal Court on Aug. 9 issued an arrest warrant for private Harun Ayan, who did not testify, while ordering the continuation of arrest for three captains Erdal Şeker, Süleyman Ahmet Kaya and Mehmet Akif Aslan.

It also ordered an examination of the scene where civilian Vedat Bağcerci was killed, to take place on Oct. 15.

The court also unanimously ruled out the prosecutor’s demand to arrest defendants in the case who are currently being tried without arrest. 

It later adjourned the hearing to Nov. 6, demanding security footage related to the raid and removing limitations on the use of the defendants’ assets in their OYAK Bank accounts.

Ahead of the court’s interim decision, CNN Türk anchorwoman Başak Şengül, who tried to continue broadcasting during the raid at the complex, said during the hearing that they evacuated the studio after the soldiers arrived. She added that she heard the sound of a helicopter hovering and heavy gunshots before heading to a friend of hers at a cab nearby.

Şengül said she would file a complaint against the soldiers and would also demand to be an intervening party in the case.

Meanwhile, footage showing the moment of the raid were screened during the hearing but the defendants continued to reject accusations, drawing angry criticism from the court board.

“Do not try to fool us. We can see that it is clear how you are holding your weapons,” the court head said after defendants claimed that they had not pointed their guns at anyone in the building.

Kaya had stated that he did not understand why security guards put their hands up, while Şeker said he did not know why one of the guards dropped to the floor.

In response, one of the judges said “perhaps he fell asleep” sarcastically, warning against any “distortion attempts” by the defendants.