Istanbul: Red notice issued for fugitive in MIT case

By Muhammed Enes Can, Murat Kaya and Murat Paksoy

ISTANBUL (AA) - The 14th High Criminal Court in Istanbul directed the Justice Ministry to issue a red notice for fugitive Can Dundar in the MIT trucks case, according to a judicial source on Monday.

The court also issued an arrest warrant for Dundar.

The court, in addition, decided that the first trial in the case would be held on May 7.

In May 2016, the 14th High Criminal Court in Istanbul had convicted Dundar following the publication of images purporting to show arms being transported to Syria in trucks belonging to Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization, also known as the MIT.

The defendant was arrested late November 2015 and held in prison until Feb. 26, 2016 when Turkey's Constitutional Court ruled that his rights had been violated and ordered his release.

Turkey’s Supreme Court of Appeals ruled on March 9 that Dundar, the former editor-in-chief of Cumhuriyet daily, should be convicted and handed a sentence of 15 to 20 years in jail on charge of "espionage".