Former judge in Dink murder case to be tried for bribery

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey’s Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) has permitted an investigation of Erkan Canak - a former judge presiding over the case of the assassination of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink - for allegations of corruption and bribery, Today’s Zaman reports.

Canak, former judge of the Istanbul 14th High Criminal Court, who now presides over a court in Sakarya, will be tried at the 5th Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court of Appeals in Istanbul.

If the court finds him guilty, Canak will be forced to resign. Canak is accused of “acting in a way that has shaken the trust and respect required by his position, engaging in corruption and taking bribes,” according to the HSYK.

In 2010 Canak’s telephone conversation with another judge, Ali Hadi Emre, was wiretapped. In the conversation Canak complained that he had received threats from Kudbettin Avcı, a lawyer, over the release of a drug baron from prison. Canak told Emre that Avcı threatened to spread rumors about him if he refused to release the drug baron.

“If he continues to threaten me, I will go to the Justice Ministry and tell them about everything. The baron was captured with 200 kilograms of drugs. How can I release him?” Canak asked, adding: “I have known him for years. He is my friend. But he says he will complain to the [Justice Ministry] inspector about me. I have nothing to be afraid of. But why does he keep harassing me?”

Emre, in response, advised the judge to calm down and promised everything would be better in the future.

It was later revealed that Canak agreed to accept a bribe from the drug baron’s men to acquit the drug trafficker of the charges. The men also arranged hotel rooms for Canak and hired prostitutes for him.

On Dec 13, 2010, the HSYK removed Canak from the Istanbul 14th High Criminal Court, which was hearing the Dink case, on the grounds that an earlier Ministry of Justice report alleged that he had close contacts with suspects in the Ergenekon case, a clandestine underground network accused of plotting to overthrow the government.