ANKARA, Turkey, July 30 (UPI) -- The Turkish government said Tuesday eight sergeants charged with kidnapping and sexually abusing a 16-year-old girl have been drummed out of the military.
Fatma Sahin, Family and Social Policy minister, made the announcement, the newspaper Today's Zaman reported.
The girl, identified as E.A., filed a complaint in May with the public prosecutor's office in Solhan, a district of Bingol province, alleging she had been abducted and sexually abused two years ago. The Family and Social Policy Ministry entered the case as co-plaintiff against the sergeants after they were released pending trial.
The release of the suspects drew harsh criticism from the public, the newspaper noted, leading to the re-arrest of one of them.
Monday Sahin posted a Twitter comment, saying, "The trial is still in progress. The government is showing a clear stance in the case. The Gendarmerie General Command has dismissed the eight sergeants."
