A court in the Turkish-occupied town of Famagusta has sentenced Nil Pınar Gökmen to eight months in prison for leaking an explicit video allegedly featuring Ersan Saner, the former head of the breakaway regime’s 'government'.
The case stems from a scandal that erupted in October 2021, when footage of a sexually explicit nature was circulated on social media, purportedly showing Saner, who was then serving as "prime minister" in the north. The leak triggered political turmoil within the ruling National Unity Party (UBP) and ultimately led to Saner's resignation.
Privacy violation and defamation
The 'criminal court' in Famagusta found Gökmen guilty of breaching privacy laws and defamation, following a legal suit filed by Saner, who claimed he was the victim of a “character assassination” through the unlawful publication of the video.
In delivering the sentence, Judge Aysu Çakan Alakan underlined the seriousness of the offence, noting that the punishment was handed down within the prescribed legal framework.
Background: The Saner scandal
Dubbed the “Saner scandal” in local media, the case had far-reaching political consequences. At the time, Saner accused his political rivals of orchestrating a coordinated campaign against him, referring to the incident as a “moral assassination.”
The video’s circulation intensified internal divisions within the UBP, and Saner stepped down just weeks later amid mounting pressure.
Subsequent investigations pointed to Nil Pınar Gökmen as the individual responsible for leaking the footage. After an extended legal process, the court in the north has now imposed an eight-month custodial sentence.
Sources: Kıbrıs Postası, Haberkıbrıs, MH A Haber / Edited by Christothea Iacovou