Judge faces criminal gang-related charges

According to a report published in the Vatan daily on Monday, Judge E.C. is suspected of establishing a criminal gang, accepting bribes and malpractice.

E.C. was the former presiding judge of the İstanbul 14th High Criminal Court, a specially authorized court, and was suspended due to bribery allegations.

The Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) has completed an investigation regarding the allegations about the judge and allowed Bakırköy Deputy Chief Public Prosecutor Mustafa Atagün to start legal proceedings. Atagün recently drafted an indictment of 11 other suspects. The fifth chamber of the Supreme Court of Appeals will hear the case against E.C. since he was still serving as the head of a court when he allegedly committed the crimes. The Bakırköy High Criminal Court will hear the case against the other suspects. E.C.’s telephone conversation with lawyer Kudbettin Kaya concerning a drug baron was taped as part of an investigation into Ergenekon, a clandestine crime network with alleged links within the state suspected of plotting to topple the government. In the conversation, Kaya, arrested for attempting to influence the Ergenekon case, had threatened the judge to release the drug baron.