Pelin Ünker, a reporter for Cumhuriyet newspaper, faced defamation charges of criminal insult at her second hearing before Istanbul’s Second Criminal Court of First Instance today.
Ünker, who first appeared before the court on June 21, was charged after Treasury Minister Berat Albayrak raised concerns over Ünker’s reporting on the Paradise Papers leak. Minister Albayrak and his brother, Serhat Albayrak, were both present at the hearing. Ünker’s lawyers were Abbas Yalçın and Tora Pekin.
Ünker’s Paradise Papers reporting has been the subject of multiple case files, leading her lawyers to request that the files be merged. The panel of judges agreed to review the various files and merge any which have clear legal connections.
Ünker’s defense statement will be heard by the court at her third hearing, which is scheduled for February 21.
Updated: November 27 2018
