24 August 2009 / TODAY'S ZAMAN, İSTANBUL
The Ergenekon trial that began last October based on the first indictment prepared by case prosecutors resumes today, with 86 suspects standing trial on charges of forming an organization to overthrow the government. Twenty-seven are in jail, with the rest having been released pending trial.
The trial resumes today after a 19-day break. Today's hearing comes after the court ruled to merge the case of the 2006 Council of State attack and a hand grenade attack on the Cumhuriyet daily with the Ergenekon trial. The first session in the so-called first Ergenekon trial, referring to the trial of suspects accused in the first indictment, was held on Oct. 20, 2003. The İstanbul 13th High Criminal Court is hearing the case. In the past eight months, the court has held 103 hearings in which suspects have given their defense testimonies. The longest testimony came from suspect and lawyer Kemal Kerinçsiz, lasting 12 sessions. Kerinçsiz spoke for a total of approximately 60 hours during his defense.
