9. The applicant was born in 1945 and lives in Istanbul. 10. In an indictment dated 22 December 1980, the Kırklareli Public Prosecutor charged the applicant, under Article 240 of the Criminal Code, with abuse of office by assisting and protecting smugglers. 11. On 23 February 1982 the Tekirdağ Assize Court convicted the applicant for abuse of office and sentenced him to one year and eight months' imprisonment and to a heavy fine. The applicant appealed. On 30 June 1982 the Court of Cassation quashed the judgment. 12. The Tekirdağ Assize Court subsequently joined the applicant's case with another case of collective smuggling initiated against 13 co-accused. 13. On 12 December 1990 the Tekirdağ Assize Court convicted the applicant and the other co-accused for collective smuggling and sentenced the applicant to one year and eight months' imprisonment.  On 15 April 1992 the Court of Cassation upheld the judgment of the Tekirdağ Assize Court. 14. On 23 September 1992 the Head Office of the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation rejected the applicant's petition for rectification of the Court of Cassation's judgment dated 15 April 1992. 15. On 5 November 1992 the Tekirdağ Assize Court admitted the applicant's request that his case be re-opened and initiated new proceedings. On 16 September 1993 the Tekirdağ Assize Court convicted the applicant confirming its former judgment of 12 December 1990. 16. The applicant appealed. On 5 October 1994 the Court of Cassation upheld the Tekirdağ Assize Court's judgment of 16 September 1993. 17. On 7 December 1994 the Head Office of the Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation rejected the applicant's petition for rectification of its decision. 18. On 15 February 1995 the Tekirdağ Assize Court rejected the applicant's second petition that his case be re-opened.