Jailed engineer to judge: You will stand trial when democracy comes to this country!

A Kocaeli engineer, identified by his initials M.K., told the judge in charge that he will stand trial for his decision to sentence the former to nearly 7 years in jail on terror charges, media said Monday.

“Dear judge, I didn’t get this sentence. You sentenced yourself. When the democracy and the rule of law come to this country one day, you will be responsible for this [decision.] I will be watching you in this courtroom and spit on your face,” M.K. told the judge after his conviction was announced.

Under arrest for some time over links to the Gulen movement, M.K. was given 6 years, 10 months and 15 days in prison on charges of membership to an armed terror group.

M.K. was escorted out of the courtroom by gendarmerie and the judge overseeing the case ordered another investigation into M.K.’s words during the final hearing.

M.K.’s engineering license was earlier revoked by the government over Gulen ties, media said.

Turkish government accuses the Gulen movement of masterminding the July 15, 2016 failed coup while the latter denies involvement.

More than 150,000 people have lost their jobs over ties to the group, while some 150,000 were detained and 60,000 arrested since the summer of 2016.