Report says coup leaders cannot attend hearings

ANKARA - Hürriyet Daily News

Protersters and families of victims gather outside the court before the case. DAILY NEWS photo

In response to a medical report which indicated that Kenan Evren and Tahsin Şahinkaya, two living members of the military junta that staged the infamous Sept. 12, 1980 coup currently being investigated, are unable to attend court hearings due to critical health conditions, prosecutors suggested the men attend via teleconference.

Prepared by the Forensic Medical Institution the report was presented at the fifth hearing of the Sept. 12, 1980 coup case after much anticipation.

The report found the two former generals not in appropriate health to stand before the court. The two figures’ health conditions would turn life-threatening with doctors unable to save them, the report also said. Former Chief of General Staff Evren, who served as president between 1982 and 1989, is 95-years-old while Şahinkaya, a former air force commander, is 87-years-old.

Independent medical institution

Intervening lawyers demanded another medical study of the suspects’ health be carried out by an independent medical institution.

The court, however, demanded separate medical reports from one of the university hospitals.
Prosecutor Kemal Çetin demanded Evren and Şahinkaya give their testimony via an audio and visual conference system. The court was set to decide on the prosecutor’s application.

Friday the court demanded more documents from the Chief of General Staff, including the list of visitors of the pre-coup period. The sixth hearing will be held on Sept. 14, 2012.