NEXT HEARING SHALL TAKE PLACE ON 12 FEBRUARY 2004 CONCERNING THE DEATH OF HACETTEPE UNIVERITY STUDENT BIRTAN ALTINBAŞ UNDER TORTURE IN 1991
It is known that one of the defendants, Süleyman Sinkil, got retired and settled in Denizli. There is a arrest warrant against him. However, since one year, decision of arrest has not been executed.
Other defendants İbrahim Dedeoğlu and Hasan Cavit Orhan have not attended at the last three hearings. Defence lawyer quitted. The petition concerning the quit of the lawyer needs to be notified to them. However, the notification has not been given yet.
In the process of notification, İbrahim Dedeoğlu got retired on 14 December 2003 from his service at the Ankara Directorate for Security. The Court has sent the notification letter to the latest address of Dedeoğlu. However, this letter was returned since he was not known at that address. The Directorate for Security, upon the request of the Court, provided a new address which was given by Dedeoğlu for his retirement. The notification letter was returned again. Because Dedeoğlu was not known in this address too.
Since Hasan Cavit Orhan has changed his work place the notification letter sent by the Court to the Directorate for Security was returned. There was no indication where he moved to work. Finally the notification letter was sent to his home address. However he has moved from this address and the letter was returned to the Court.
This case which has intentionally been taken towards the statute of limitation should be concluded in justice for the name of other cases ended with statute of limitations and for the anme of torture victims. Since the last three hearings, attitudes of defendants, defence lawyers and institutions lead us evidently to think only one thing; these people having concrete evidences about their crimes disappear.
Article104 of the Criminal Procedures Code prescribes that people who have strong evidences about their criminality may be arrested in case there are facts to cause suspicion of escape. Absence of a residential address establishes one of those facts.
Ones who are sincere about the elimination of torture should take the preventive measures as soon as possible. The decision of arrest for Süleyman Sinkil should immediately be executed and an immediate decision should be given.
WE INVITE ALL WHO ARE FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE RIGHT TO LIFE AND WHO ARE STANDING AGAINST TORTURE TO ATTEND THE HEARING AT ANKARA HEAVY PENAL COURT NO:2 ON 12 FEBRAURY 2004 AT 10:00.
HUMAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATION