An operation against Bora Kaplan in the judiciary?

With the arrest of Bora Kaplan, who is alleged to be the leader of an organized crime syndicate, the mafia's connections within the police-judiciary-politics triangle have once again become a subject of debate.

Bora Kaplan, who was detained at Esenboğa Airport while attempting to go abroad last September, three months after Ali Yerlikaya was appointed Minister of Interior, accused the team of Servet Yılmaz, the Ankara Police Chief during the era of former minister Süleyman Soylu, in his statements. Kaplan alleged that Alp Arslan, the Deputy Police Chief responsible for the Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime (KOM) branch, demanded a 250 thousand dollar bribe from him, had his venues raided every day when he did not pay, and also forced him to buy a Rolex watch worth 10 thousand Euros for Arslan's girlfriend.

Serdar Sertçelik, who was the number two defendant in the Kaplan case before it was revealed that he had been made a secret witness and subsequently fled abroad, explained in his statement coded “M7” that, in addition to Alp Arslan, the KOM Branch Manager Oben Özay and numerous police officers had ties to Bora Kaplan.

Following these revelations, the mentioned police officers were dismissed from the Police Department and investigations were launched against them. On June 14, with the indictment prepared by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, a lawsuit was filed against Alp Arslan, Oben Özay, and other mentioned police officers, as well as Bora Kaplan, for the crimes of “bribery and violation of the Law on Declaration of Assets.”

ACCUSATIONS SPILLING INTO THE COURTHOUSE CORRIDORS

The first hearing of this case, which is being heard at the Ankara 33rd High Criminal Court, was on Friday.

On the same day, the main “criminal organization” trial of Bora Kaplan was being held at the Ankara 32nd High Criminal Court, and the Prosecutor announced his opinion on the merits, meaning the sentences he requested for the defendants. Therefore, Bora Kaplan sent an excuse and did not attend this trial where he is being tried alongside the police officers.

The defendant police officers, on the other hand, barely addressed the allegations regarding Bora Kaplan, instead focusing their defense solely on the accusations concerning their assets, and the next hearing was adjourned to December 20.

First, let us report an incident from this hearing that was not reflected in the media.

Aziz Savaş, a businessman who was assigned protection within the scope of the Bora Kaplan file, had also filed a complaint against former Ankara Police Chief Servet Yılmaz, as well as Oben Özay and 4 police officers, alleging that they “assaulted him and demanded bribes.” Following this complaint, Savaş's vehicle was shot at.

Aziz Savaş wanted to observe the hearing on Friday; however, he was not allowed inside. At the end of the hearing, Savaş shouted at the defendant police officers Alp Arslan and Oben Özay in the courthouse corridor: “You are crypto-FETÖ members. You paved the way for Ayhan Bora Kaplan and you are the ones who brought drugs into this country. Servet Yılmaz and you are the ringleaders. You used the state's rank to seize my money. You committed torture and extorted money. You wiretapped my phone illegally. You had my car shot at. You destroyed Ankara.”

ONE DAY BEFORE THE HEARING

Let us come to the remarkable development that occurred just before this trial where Bora Kaplan and the police officers are being tried.

The Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSK) removed Hasan Şatır, the President of the Ankara 33rd High Criminal Court, from his position and assigned him to the Court of Cassation Chief Public Prosecutor's Office with temporary authority for 4 months.

Comments were made that this change of duty was influenced by the decision to accept the objections of 4 of the defendants in the main Bora Kaplan case at the 32nd High Criminal Court, who had been ordered to remain in custody, and to release them.

In the courthouse corridors, different allegations are being voiced, and questions are being asked: “Was it determined that the Court had contact with Bora Kaplan's circle? Was it planned that Kaplan would say in the hearing that his statements against these police officers were taken under duress and pressure, and that the police officers would ultimately be acquitted?”

For now, let us state this much: it is being discussed that a highly confidential investigation is being conducted by the HSK into members of the judiciary who are alleged to have connections with Bora Kaplan, that some names have been asked to retire, and that if they do not retire, the button will be pressed.

Müyesser YILDIZ

October 13, 2024