Death Sentence Passed On FormerP.M.

Press, Volume C, Issue 29620, 16 September 1961, Page 11

Death Sentence Passed On FormerP.M.

tN.Z Press Association—Copyright) YASSIADA (Turkey), Sept. 15. Ten former Turkish leaders, including the former Prime Minister, Adnan Menderes, and the former President, Celal Bayar, were sentenced to death today for violation of the Turkish Constitution.

Menderes was. not in Court, the British United Press reported. The Chief Justice of the speciai tribunal said that ill-health had kept him away and that four doctors had certified his condition. Bayar is 78 and Menderes 61. Life sentences with hard

labour were ordered for another nine accused during the first morning session, in which sentences were read out for 65 of the 592 accused

There were five acquittals in the session.

Other sentences, all for violation of the constitution, ranged from four years two months to an accumulated sentence of 20 years. Sentences were read to groups of about 20 accused at a time in the converted indoor basketball court on the island of Yassiada, once a naval base. Besides Menderes and Bayar, death sentences were ordered for the former Foreign Minister, Fatin Zorlu. and the former Finance Minister. Hasan Polatkan.

Death sentences also were ordered for three members of a committee Menderes set up to investigate his political opposition, the Republican Party. They were Hamdi Sancar, Nusret Kirsciogln and Bahabir Dulger. Other members of the committee were sentenced to life imprisonment Two deputy Parliamentary leaders who also received death sentences were Agah Erozan and Ibrahim Kirazoglu. A third, the Deputy Speaker, Hhan Sipahioglu, was acquitted. The Associated Press said the tenth man sentenced to death was the former Speaker of the National Assembly, Refik Koraltan. Those who received life sentences included the former State Minister, Izzet Akcal, the former Minster of Justice,

Celal Yardimici, and the former Minister of Public Works, Tevsir Ileri. There was no immediate indication if or when the death sentences would be carried out. The National Unity Committee, the military junta headed by President Cemal Gursel, must approve the sentences, the British United Press said.

There is no time-limit on this, but a military spokesman said yesterday he expected sentences would be confirmed in less than 24 hours and that executions might be carried out tomorrow. The accused £ave been kept on Yassiada, 11 miles from Istanbul, since before their 10-month-long trial began in October last year. There were no ordinary spectators during today’s sentencing—the seats along the walls were filled with Turkish and foreign reporters and personal guests of the National Unity Committee.