The one-year imprisonment sentence against prosecutor Ali İhsan Demirel due to “misuse of duty” after delaying the investigation conducted on the “Back to Life Operation” against prisons on December 19-22, 2000 was reversed by the Criminal General Assembly of the Court of Cassation. The court suggested the “workload” of the Prosecutor as reason for the delay. Demirel will be re-prosecuted by the 5th Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation.
Contemporary Lawyers Association (ÇHD) Executive Board member lawyer Güçlü Sevimli stated that the verdict of reversal was forced so that Demirel would be acquitted. ÇHD launched an official statement as well, indicating that the verdict is unlawful and unacceptable. “We will continue to track the case so that justice is served,” the association stated.
Demirel had conducted the investigation on the operation’s limb at Bayrampaşa Prison, where 12 arrests and convicts have died as well as hundreds being injured, for ten years. However, he only filed lawsuits against 39 private soldiers and issued verdicts of non-prosecution for high-ranking soldiers, separating the files of some. When the case was taken from him, the new Prosecutor filed lawsuits within one year against those on duty at Ankara Gendarmerie Special Security Command.
01.08.2019
cumhuriyet.com.tr