Halit Ergenç and Rıza Kocaoğlu appeared before the judge
Making his defense at the hearing, Ergenç said, “The reason I went to Gezi Park is purely environmentalism and to prevent trees from being cut down.” While Kocaoğlu made the same defense, the hearing was adjourned so that the prosecutor could prepare his opinion on the merits.
Halit Ergenç, who made his defense at the hearing, said, “I don’t think I committed any crime because I didn’t lie, I answered the questions asked to me. I don’t think I made a false statement. My statement was used in the Ayşe Barım file. I was asked if I knew Mehmet Ali Alabora, Osman Kavala and Çiğdem Mater. I said I knew Alabora from my conservatory years. I said I met him in a business environment. I said I had no intimacy other than that.”
Ergenc continued:
“Although I was not very close with Alabora, we met more than once because he was the head of the actors’ union. There were Gezi Park marches at that time. The reason we attended the Gezi Park march was to prevent the trees there from being cut down. It was never a march against the state or the government. My phone call was entirely because the square was closed to marches at that time and we did not have the opportunity to enter. During that time, we met with Alabora to ask where and how we would meet, and other meetings were because he was the head of the union. I did not receive any special instructions or any instructions. My reason for going to Gezi Park was purely for environmentalism and preventing the trees from being cut down. This is also the reason why I stated that I was not sincere when asked at that time, it is not possible for me to adopt any political view there. If the prosecutor had asked me during the investigation phase whether I had met him, I would have made the same statement, as I have stated to you. Since he asked me whether I knew him, I said that I was not sincere at all. I stated the reasons for my meeting the second time as I have stated here.”
His lawyer also stated that he did not rebel against the state, as Ergenç also mentioned, and said, “The reason he was there is nature, environment and people. He also met with state officials to prevent the trees from being cut down. If the opposite had been the case, my client would have continued with such protests. We do not agree with the accusations and we want him to be acquitted.”
While talking about his meetings with Alabora, the judge asked Ergenç, “So, was there any attempt to overthrow the state?” Ergenç replied, “We never had such thoughts.”
Rıza Kocaoğlu also said, “When we were invited as a witness, I tried to give detailed answers. They asked me general questions about Alabora, I said I knew him, I knew him as the head of the players’ union, but I had no contact with him. They were very general questions, so I answered whatever was asked to the best of my recollection. It had been 12 years, so I didn’t remember if I had met him or not, so I said I hadn’t. I had declared that I had no contact with him before or after the Gezi Park incidents. I was there entirely because the trees were being cut down in Gezi Park. The crowd that formed there was very close to my house, so I joined in. My meeting with Alabora was because he was the head of the union.”
The hearing was adjourned until May 23 so that the prosecutor can prepare his opinion.
(ANKA)
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