Policeman sentenced in Gezi's 'lady in red' trial

ISTANBUL

A police officer accused of "misconduct" and "excessive use of force" during the 2013 Gezi Park protests has been sentenced to 20 months in prison by an Istanbul court on Wednesday. 

The Turkish policeman Fatih Zengin could be seen in a picture firing tear gas directly into the face of a female protestor dressed in a bright red dress, during the Gezi Park protests in Istanbul.

The case was held at Istanbul's 73rd Penal Court, which ruled that the policeman had exceeded his authority to use force. 

Zengin's imprisonment, however, has been suspended for five years, during which he will be on supervised release. The court also ruled that the defendant had to plant 600 trees and care for them for six months. 

The picture of Ceyda Sungur being sprayed became a symbol for the demonstrations, which erupted when protesters gathered to prevent the demolition of Gezi Park located in the city center. The protests gained momentum following initial police intervention. 

Ceyda Sungur, an academic commonly known as the lady in red since the incident, argued in court that the policeman had fired tear gas at her and others around her without warning.