Ergenekon suspects fined over 2.3 million Turkish liras

ISTANBUL – Anadolu Agency

Sixty Ergenekon suspects have been fined over 2.3 million Turkish Liras over charges related to the Arms Law of the Turkish Constitution. DHA photo

Sixty Ergenekon suspects have been fined over 2.3 million Turkish Liras over charges related to the Arms Law of the Turkish Constitution, in addition to the severe prison sentences handed down at the Aug. 5 verdict trial, Istanbul’s 13th High Criminal Court’s verdict statement revealed.

The financial penalties included high-profile suspects like retired army officials Veli Küçik and Arif Doğan, who were fined high amounts over a set of possession of weaponry and dangerous substances charges, in addition to their sentences that followed charges related to attempts of overthrowing the growing.

The highest fine of 405,000 liras fell on retired Colonel Arif Doğan, the alleged founder of the secret Gendarmerie Intelligence Anti-Terrorism Unit (JİTEM) organization, who was also sentenced to 47 years in prison following the Ergenekon hearings.

Doğan’s fine was the sum of two separate convictions, resulting in 270.000 Turkish liras for violating the Arms Law, and 135,000 for “storing drugs or simulative substances with commercial aims.”

Retired Lt. Col. Mustafa Dönmez, sentenced to 49 years, received the second highest fine at 346,660 liras, as the fines varied from thousands of liras to a couple of hundred. High profile suspects Veli Küçük and Doğu Perinçek, who were also given severe prison sentence terms, were fined 15,570 liras and 6,600 liras respectively.

2.5 million Euros confiscated

Monetary losses did not come solely in the form of fines to convicted Ergenekon suspects as the court ruled on confiscating the 2.5 million euros belonging to Republican People’s Party (CHP) Deputy Sinan Aygün, according to daily Radikal.

The court decided that the money, which was found at Aygün’s apartment, was used for financial backing and funding of the Ergenekon organization. Aygün was already sentenced to over 13 years in prison.
The Aug. 5 verdict trial marked the end of the Ergenekon coup case, which gripped the nation since a manhunt was launched following the discovery of 27 hand grenades in an Istanbul house.