Turkish Court Martial refuses to arrest suspected coup plotter

In a statement posted in its official website on Monday evening, Turkish General Staff said, in the light of new evidence that could prove the alleged document "was indeed drafted by Colonel Dursun Cicek", the military prosecutor's office relaunched the investigation.

The alleged plot which was brought to agenda in June 2009 with a news story published in a daily newspaper, had caused wide controversy and Col. Cicek was prosecuted and was arrested and released twice.

The Military Prosecutor's office also had looked into the allegations, but decided to not to further investigate due to lack of evidence.

General Staff said in its statement Monday evening that the Military Prosecutor's office interrogated Col. Cicek once again and asked the General Staff Court Martial to arrest suspect Cicek.

Court Martial rejected the prosecutor's demand.

In the statement General Staff referred to an earlier statement made by the Chief of Staff when the military prosecutor' office decided not to further investigate the allegations for lack of evidence, which pointed out that Turkey was a "state of law", and the investigation could be launched if new evidence was found.

General Staff underlined that the investigation was underway and "called on everyone to respect the process and the presumption of innocence".

The alleged plot is also closely linked with the recent arrest of Erzincan Prosecutor Ilhan Cihaner, as the prosecutors claim that the plot was put into practice in Erzincan.

Cihaner was carrying out an investigation several months ago against a religious congregation for "unlawful" religious education of children.

Turkish daily newspaper Taraf published in June 2009, a plot document allegedly drafted and signed by Col. Cicek at the General Staff Headquarters in Ankara, outlining the alleged military plan to smear Justice and Development (AK) Party government and the Fethullah Gulen congregation.

The news story caused wide controversy and stirred heated debates in Turkey which lasted for months.

The ruling Justice and Development Party filed a criminal complaint regarding allegations and carried the issue to court.

Col.Cicek was arrested shortly after then by a civil court, upon the demand of the Ergenekon prosecutors, but was released shortly after as his lawyer appealed his arrest.

Forensic examinations also said that the signature on the photocopy of the said document belonged to Col. Cicek.

The Military Prosecutors investigated into allegations and "decided not to launch prosecution" regarding allegations as they concluded that the document was "not drafted at General Staff Headquarters, and such a document did not exist."

Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug reacted strongly to allegations and severely criticized news reports over an alleged anti-government plot document as part of "a campaign to smear the armed forces."

Discussions in the media centered around whether or not a photocopy could be legally a valid piece of evidence.

Soon the debates would cool-off, and the alleged plot document be nearly forgotten, until three and a half months ago, when a letter sent by an anonymous military officer reached the Istanbul Chief Prosecutor's office.

The letter which was claimed to contain the original copy of the document with wet signature brought back the issue high on agenda.

Nearly a dozen of officers, soldiers, and civilian personnel were interrogated by the Ergenekon prosecutors since then.


/World Bulletin/