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Actors Müjdat Gezen and Metin Akpınar, on a television show they hosted In their speech they began to be tried for “insulting the president”, demanding a prison sentence of up to four years and eight months each.
Defendant Metin Akpınar and his lawyers and lawyer for President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended the hearing at the 8th Anadolu Criminal Court of First Instance. Müjdat Gezen, who did not attend the hearing alleging health problems and the Kovid-19 outbreak, represented lawyers.
The defendant, whose identity was determined, Metin Akpınar, said he was a theater artist and had a monthly income of 6,000 lira.
The defendant, Metin Akpınar, who made his defense, said:
‘I MENTIONED ABOUT DEMOCRACY’
“I have served 80 years as Metin Akpınar with my identity, knowledge and character. 60 years of this have been reserved for the comfort of society at least. In the program in question, I shared my knowledge, thoughts and opinions about them. I said forcefully under the gun. The words that I spoke in the program are the words that I spoke with my free will, without being under pressure. I have dedicated my life to art since my youth. In this program I also spoke about art. I also spoke of democracy and the stages that lead us to democracy. I request that a decision be made. “
When asked if he would like to postpone the announcement of the verdict in the event of a sanction in the case, Akpınar said he did not accept it.
Akpınar’s lawyer İsmet Atilla Hekimoğlu, arguing that he spoke about democracy on the program his client attended, said: “The target of his words is not directly the president. Furthermore, the elements of the offense of insult are not included in his words. We demand that my client be acquitted. “
Denez Şeren, lawyer for the defendant Müjdat Gezen, stated that he could not attend the hearing because his client had health problems and said: “My client has a chronic problem of lumbar hernia. He cannot walk. Therefore, he could not attend the hearing. We will prepare for the next hearing. We demand that your excuse be accepted. “
President Erdoğan’s lawyer, Gökhan Arslanoğlu, said: “Our complaint about the accused continues. We demand their punishment. We also have a request to participate in the case.” used expressions.
In announcing its provisional sentence, the court decided to accept President Erdogan’s request to participate in the trial in case of damages for the crime.
By deciding to accept the excuse of the defendant Müjdat Gezen, the court decided to give the lawyer some time until the next hearing to prepare his client.
The court also accepted the defendant Metin Akpınar’s request to be excused from the hearings and adjourned it.
EVENT HISTORY
The Anatolian Prosecutor General’s Office in Istanbul launched an investigation against Müjdat Gezen and Metin Akpınar for the statements they made on the program “Halk Arena”, hosted by Uğur Dündar on Halk TV, where they were invited on December 21, 2018.
Müjdat Gezen and Metin Akpınar, who went to the Anatolian Court of Justice with the police within the scope of the investigation, were released within the scope of judicial control measures of the 3rd Anatolian Criminal Court of the Peace.
The prosecution lifted the judicial control decision against Gezen and Akpınar, which was issued once a week in the form of a ban on signing and leaving abroad at the nearest police station.
In the indictment prepared as a result of the investigation, Müjdat Gezen and Metin Akpınar are asked to be sentenced from one year to two months and from four years to eight months each for “insulting the president”.
