The new Turkey
Murat Şevki Çoban.
Tarat responsible managing editor

23-Jan-2020 10:06

4 December 2019:

Mehmet Baransu and Murat Şevki Çoban’s trial dismissed for lack of jurisdiction

The trial of Mehmet Baransu, a former reporter for the shuttered Taraf daily, and Murat Şevki Çoban, the newspaper’s former responsible editor, over a news report published in November 2013 resumed on 4 December 2019 at Istanbul’s Anadolu 10th High Criminal Court.

This was the 22nd hearing in the trial, where the journalists are charged with “acquiring documents related to the security of the state,” “exposing documents related to the security of the state” and “exposing documents of the National Intelligence Agency (MİT).”

Baransu, who submitted a letter of excuse to the court, did not attend the hearing and was represented by his lawyer. Çoban, who gave his statement earlier in the trial, was represented by lawyer Figen Albuga Çalıkuşu.

The prosecutor presented his final opinion, asking the court to rule for non-jurisdiction and transfer the case file to the Anadolu 2nd High Criminal Court on the grounds that the alleged offense was committed through the press. 

Issuing its verdict at the end of the hearing, the court ruled for the case file to be transferred to Anadolu 2nd High Criminal Court for lack of jurisdiction on the grounds that the alleged crime “was committed through the press.” The case will now be overseen by the Anadolu 2nd High Criminal Court.

24 October 2019:

24 September 2019:

Prosecutor asks court to rule for non-jurisdiction in “Taraf MGK report” trial

The trial of Mehmet Baransu, the former reporter of shuttered Taraf newspaper and the paper’s former responsible managing editor,.Murat Şevki Çoban, resumed on 24 September 2019 at Istanbul’s Anadolu 10th High Criminal Court.

Baransu and Çoban stand accused of “acquiring documents related to the security of the state,” “exposing documents related to the security of the state” and “exposing documents of the National Intelligence Agency (MİT)” over a news report published in November 2013, titled “Gülen’i bitirme kararı 2004’te MGK’da alındı” (Decision to finish off Gülen was taken by MGK in 2004). Both face possible prison terms of 25 to 52 years.

This was the 20th hearing in the trial. P24 monitored the hearing, where neither Baransu nor Çoban were in attendance. They were both represented by their lawyers. The hearing began two hours later than scheduled. The prosecutor, who was expected to submit his final opinion of the case during this hearing, instead requested the court to issue a decision of non-jurisdiction and send the case file to the Anadolu 2nd High Criminal Court on the grounds that the alleged offense was “committed through the press.”

Accepting the lawyers’ request for a continuance to prepare their statements in response to the prosecutor’s opinion, the court adjourned the trial until 24 October 2019.

6 March 2019:

Taraf “MGK” trial adjourned until June
 
The trial of former Taraf reporter Mehmet Baransu and responsible managing editor Murat Şevki Çoban on the charges of “obtaining classified documents” and “exposing secret information pertaining to the security of state” resumed on 6 March in an Istanbul court.
 
The case is related to a news report published in Taraf on 28 November 2013 and titled “Gülen’i bitirme kararı 2004’te MGK’da alındı” (Decision to finish off Gülen taken by MGK in 2004). The story said the Fethullah Gülen network was listed as a threat in a National Security Council (MGK) meeting that year. Each journalist faces up to 52 years in prison as part of the case.  P24 monitored the hearing at the Istanbul Anadolu 10th High Criminal Court.
 
Çoban was not in attendance because he had given his defense statement earlier. He was represented by his lawyer Figen Çalıkuşu. Baransu and his lawyer both submitted letters of excuse because they were unable to attend the hearing.
 
During the hearing, lawyer Çalıkuşu submitted to the court an additional defense statement by Çoban in written form. Addressing the court concerning Çoban’s statement, Çalıkuşu said that according to Turkey’s Press Law, her client could not be held responsible for the content on which the accusations are based because the said content was published under a byline. Çalıkuşu requested Çoban’s acquittal. The prosecution said they restated their final opinion of the case.
 
The court adjourned the trial until 19 June 2019 for Baransu and his lawyer’s final defense statements in response to the prosecution’s final opinion.

12 December 2018:

Taraf “MGK report” trial adjourned until March
 
The trial of former Taraf reporter Mehmet Baransu and responsible managing editor Murat Şevki Çoban, who are accused of “obtaining classified documents” and “exposing secret information pertaining to the security of state,” resumed on 12 December at the Istanbul Anadolu 10th High Criminal Court.
 
The case is related to a news report published in Taraf on 28 November 2013 and titled “Gülen’i bitirme kararı 2004’te MGK’da alındı” (Decision to finish off Gülen taken by MGK in 2004). The story said the Fethullah Gülen network was listed as a threat in a National Security Council (MGK) meeting that year. Both journalists face up to 52 years in prison for a variety of charges as part of the case, including divulging state secrets and exposing documents of the National Intelligence Agency (MİT).
 
P24 monitored the latest hearing where both defendants were represented by their lawyers. Çoban was not in attendance because he had given his defense statement earlier and Baransu could not attend due to health issues.