Indictment filed against journalists in ‘expert witness disclosure’ investigation

An indictment has been prepared against several journalists in Türkiye as part of an investigation into the alleged disclosure of an expert witness. The journalists part of the case are from Türkiye’s second largest opposition TV channel Halk TV.

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has sought prison sentences ranging from four to 14 years for the accused journalists.

Charges and potential sentences

The indictment names Baris Pehlivan and Kursad Oguz as suspects, accusing them of “recording non-public conversations between individuals,” “attempting to influence judicial officials,” and “publishing recorded conversations through media.”

Prosecutors are seeking prison sentences ranging from six to 14 years for these charges.

Additionally, Halk TV’s Editor-in-Chief Suat Toktas, along with journalists Seda Selek and Serhan Asker, were also charged with “publishing recorded conversations through media” and “attempting to influence judicial officials.”

Prosecutors are requesting prison terms between four and nine years for them.

Details of the indictment

According to the indictment, the investigation began following a January 27 press conference held by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu.

During this conference, allegations were made concerning an expert witness involved in ongoing legal proceedings.

The prosecutor’s office alleges that during a live broadcast, the named journalists deliberately targeted the expert witness by disclosing their name and airing a voice recording taken without consent.

Authorities claim the broadcast aimed to influence the outcome of legal cases in favor of the investigation’s suspects.

Expert witness identified as plaintiff

The indictment lists expert witness S.B. as the plaintiff, with Baris Pehlivan, Kursad Oguz, Suat Toktas, Seda Selek, and Serhan Asker as suspects.

Pehlivan and Oguz allegedly recorded a conversation with the expert witness without consent, leading to charges under laws prohibiting unauthorized recording of private discussions. They are also accused of attempting to influence judicial officials, which carries a significant legal penalty.

Toktas, Selek, and Asker, meanwhile, are accused of obtaining and distributing the recording among themselves before broadcasting it on live television. Prosecutors claim their actions were aimed at exerting undue pressure on the judiciary.

Legal proceedings and next steps

The indictment seeks prison sentences of up to 14 years for Pehlivan and Oguz and up to nine years for the other three journalists.

The case, centered on allegations of judicial interference and privacy violations, is expected to proceed to trial in the coming days or months.