Istanbul prosecutor demands acquittal of suspects in Turkey's match-fixing case

An Istanbul prosecutor has demanded the acquittal of high-profile suspects, including Fenerbahçe Chairman Aziz Y?ld?r?m, in Turkey?s match-fixing case.

Prosecutor Abdullah Mirza Co?kun demanded the acquittal of Y?ld?r?m on charges of ?founding a criminal organization? and ?match-fixing.?

Suspects Tayfur Havutçu, Olgun Peker, ?ekip Mosturo?lu, and Korcan Çelikay were present during the trial held at the Istanbul 13th High Criminal Court, along with their lawyers.

In his seven-page opinion submitted to the court, Prosecutor Co?kun demanded the acquittal of Y?ld?r?m on charges of ?founding a terrorist organization? and ?match-fixing,? the acquittal of Peker on charges of ?founding a criminal organization,? and the acquittal of suspects Abdullah Ba?ak, Ahmet Çelebi and ?lhan Yüksel Ek?io?lu on charges of ?being a member of a criminal organization? and ?match-fixing.? Co?kun also demanded the acquittal of other suspects in the case on similar charges. 

However, he demanded prison terms of up to seven years for suspects Selim K?m?l and Olgun Peker on charges of ?threatening? and ?using and producing false documents.?

The judge has postponed the case until Oct. 9. 

On June 23, the court ordered a retrial of several convicted suspects, including Y?ld?r?m, in the July 2011 match-fixing case, which shook Turkey?s football scene.

Y?ld?r?m was first sentenced to jail in 2012 and fined 1.3 million Turkish Liras ($560,000) for forming a criminal gang and match-fixing during the 2010-2011 season. He served around one year behind bars before being freed pending a retrial.

Fenerbahçe was banned for two seasons from European competition by UEFA due to the charges.

The court agreed to retry the suspects on...