A second investigation for “spreading false information” has been launched against Sözcü newspaper reporter Evren Demirdaş upon complaints by the Governor’s Office of Elazığ and the Elazığ Provincial Special Administration

ARDIL BATMAZ, ELAZIĞ

Sözcü newspaper reporter Evren Demirdaş, who had recently come under investigation on suspicion of “spreading false information” and “false reporting” upon a complaint filed by pro-AKP businessperson Veysel Demirci has now come under a second investigation upon complaints by the Governor’s Office of Elazığ and the Elazığ Provincial Special Administration.

Demirdaş had reported on a tender held by the Provincial Special Administration affiliated with the Governor’s Office of Elazığ for the transportation of materials to and roller work on rural roads, and that the tender had been carried out on negotiated tendering basis for being “urgent.” Stating that the tender worth TL 5.5 million had been obtained by the Demkar Grup Transport Construction and Mining Company, Demirdaş wrote the following: “Negotiating tendering, which is used in cases of disaster, war, epidemic and prioritized undertakings has become the preferred method for AKP municipalities. Despite there being no security issues in the city, the Provincial Special Administration affiliated with the Governor’s Office of Elazığ has carried out the tender for the transportation of materials to rural roads through negotiated tendering, under procedure 21/C, citing ‘The necessity of urgently carrying out the tender due to the emergence of special circumstances concerning defense and security.’”

Journalist accused of “inciting the people”

Following the news item prepared by Demirdaş, the Governor’s Office of Elazığ and the Provincial Special Administration filed complaints with the Elazığ Chief Prosecutor’s Office for “false news and ungrounded allegations.” The criminal complaint, which claimed that the news item constituted an “attack on the standing” of the Governor’s Office and the Special Administration also argued that the news item did not “comply with the principles of journalism.” Demirdaş was also accused of “inciting the people” in the criminal complaint filed by the Elazığ Provincial Special Administration and the Governor’s Office of Elazığ.

“Contents of my news item are fully accurate”

Demirdaş, who gave a statement to the police at the Mareşal Fevzi Çakmak Police Station on 20 November said, “Although the criminal complaint petition states that the tender was awarded by the Provincial Special Administration, in my reporting I said that the tender had been awarded by the governor’s office as the special administration’s administrative superior body is the governor’s office. Information about the tender can be found on the Electronic Public Procurements Portal (EKAP). The contents of my news item are fully accurate and do not include any statements meant to mislead the public. I carried out my reporting to inform the public with the full care and attention required by my profession.”

Demirdaş’s lawyer Kader Arat said that checking EKAP for tender information would demonstrate the accuracy of the news item and requested that the investigation be concluded with a decision not to prosecute.