ATHENS, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- A Greek court convicted a Turkish seaman on Thursday to one year suspended prison sentence for photographing a Greek naval base, Greek national news agency AMNA reported.
The 51-year-old Turkish crew member of the Turkish flagged cargo vessel Makbule Ana was arrested last week at the port of Elefsina, near Athens.
He was charged of spying after Greek Navy officers saw him taking photos of the Salamis naval base with his mobile phone, while the Turkish ship was sailing in the area.
The defendant was not in court on Thursday. His lawyer said that following his release by Greek authorities last week he had had to return to the ship and continue the scheduled trip, otherwise the managing shipping company would face fines.
The lawyer also claimed that Greek authorities found no incriminating photos on the mobile phone which was confiscated.
The case came as bilateral ties have soured in recent weeks over territorial rights in the Aegean Sea and the Greek Supreme Court's ruling against Ankara's request for the extradition of eight Turkish servicemen who fled to Greece last July during a failed coup attempt.
Turkish authorities consider the fled officers traitors for having participated in the failed coup. However, Greek judges decided against their extradition, citing concern as to whether they would have a fair trial in Turkey.
