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Police officers given suspended sentence for hiding evidence [Cihan News Agency (Turkey)](Cihan News Agency (Turkey) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) ISTANBUL (CIHAN)- Three police officers found guilty of hiding evidence in an investigation into a beating at an Izmir police station three years ago have been given a suspended sentence of one year, three months. Fevziye Cengiz was beaten by police officers at an Izmir police station after being detained at a nightclub in the city three years ago. On Wednesday, three police officers from the station's IT department -- identified as Deputy Superintendent M.D. and officers M.K. and Ü.S. -- were each sentenced to one year, three months in prison by the Izmir 9th Criminal Court of First Instance for hiding evidence in the case. But the court has suspended their sentences for five years, meaning they will not be serving any time unless they commit another offense within the next five years. Hanife Yildirim, lawyer for the victim, said they will appeal the verdict. Cengiz was detained by Izmir police at a nightclub for failing to provide an identification card on July 17, 2011. Footage from a security camera at the police station in which officers can be seen beating Cengiz was leaked to newspapers, after which charges were filed both against Cengiz and the officers in the video. The prosecutor is demanding 16-and-a-half years for Cengiz for "resisting and insulting police," between four to nine years for police officers B.S., H.Y. and T.D. for torture and maltreatment, and one year, six months for officer N.A. for failing to intervene in the incident. Officers M.D., M.K. and Ü.S. were assigned as expert witnesses in the trial; however, they were accused of submitting biased testimony. An investigation that followed found the three men guilty of hiding evidence. The prosecutor had demanded between nine months to seven-and-a-half years in prison, for the three. They protested that they are innocent and have demanded an acquittal. (Cihan/Today's Zaman) CIHAN (c) 2014 Cihan News Agency. All right reserved. Provided by Syndigate.info, an Albawaba.com company |