İstanbul - In the trial where journalist Pelin Ünker faces “defamation and slander through press” charges for her reporting on Paradise Papers, the court ruled to dismiss the case due to the statute of limitations specified in the Turkish Press Law.
Minister of Finance and Treasury Berat Albayrak, his brother Serhat Albayrak, and Ahmet Çalık had filed a lawsuit against journalist Ünker following her news stories in Cumhuriyet daily titled “Off-Shore Brothers: The files include Minister Albayrak and his brother” and “Minister Albayrak and his brother too preferred Malta.” Fourth hearing of the trial where Ünker faced “defamation and slander through press” charges was held at the Istanbul 2nd Court of the First Instance today. Ünker and her lawyers were present in the courtroom. The lawyers of Albayrak brothers and Ahmet Çalık attended the court hearing as well. Many others monitored the trial in solidarity with Ünker, including Reporters without Borders Turkey representative Erol Önderoğlu.
The case was dismissed due to statute of limitations
Judge Nursel Bedir announced that Ünker’s lawyers’ petition requesting the dismissal of the case has been received by the court. Çalık’s lawyer objected to this request, insisting that they filed their complaint within the required timeframe. Albayrak brothers’ lawyer repeated that they demand Ünker to be punished.
Ünker’s lawyer Abbas Yalçın noted that the complaint was indeed filed in time, but that preparation of the indictment took longer than 4 months, which is the limit to open a case per Turkish Press Law. Following this clarification, Yalçın repeated their demand for dismissal.
Yalçın also reminded the court that Evrensel daily’s former Managing Editor Çağrı Sarı was acquitted in a similar case where Sarı was on trial for Paradise Papers reporting due to Albayrak brothers’ complaint. Yalçın added, “It is unlawful for one court to acquit a journalist and another to sentence one for the exact same act.”
Çalık’s lawyer noted that they did not participate in the mentioned case and had no information about the file. Albayrak brothers’ lawyer added that they too do not have information about the file.
Following a short deliberation, the court announced its decision and ruled to dismiss the case on the ground that the case was not opened within the statute of limitations.
