The 'Mirror Punishment' for the lieutenant has been canceled

It is a known fact that our country has been made a target for all kinds of terrorism. In contrast, the security measures taken should not remain on paper, and the importance of their implementation is clear. it has become importantis also evident.

It will be recalled; approximately 1.5 years ago, on July 25, 2024, in the Dörtdivan districtof Bolu, such an event occurit was stated:

Dörtdivan District Acting Governor Oğuz Yiğit, when he went to the District Gendarmerie Command’s gate, a bomb check was performed by holding a mirror under his official vehicle at the entrancedo itwas done. After that, the vehicle was allowed to enter.

When the Acting District Governor Yiğit, who was angered by this, reported the situation, the DistrictGendarmerie CommanderLieutenant S.B.S. wasremoved from dutyand reassigned to the Bolu Provincial Gendarmerie Command and an investigationan investigation was launched.

Within the scope of the investigation, military inspectors took the statement of Lieutenant S.B.S., noting that both in the Gendarmerie General Command Counter-Intelligence and Protective Security Directive and in the Bolu Provincial Gendarmerie Command's orders between 2020 and 2023, it was stated that "all official and civilian vehicleswishing to enter through the gate"of the controlthat will beconducted” regardingprovisions existed,and furthermore, at the Foça Commando School, he participatedin the terduring the counter-terrorism courses,explaining how easilyexplosives could be placedon vehicles, he learned,and stated, “The procedure during the entry of the district governor's official vehicle was not a search operation, but rather an under-vehicleinspection.is a control procedure.” he said. 

In response, the Bolu Governorship stated that as a result of the examination of camera footage, it was observed that 26 vehicles entering through the security gate between July 23-25 werenot checked in any way, and that only the Acting District Governor's vehicle was held and checked,revealingthattheexplained.

As a result of the investigation, the Bolu Provincial Gendarmerie Command Disciplinary Board, “withinthe district boundaries, the general and special law enforcement forces and organizationsthe superior of the district governor, the inspection of the district governor's vehicle was deemed an “unnecessary procedure” on the groundsthat LieutenantS.B.S. “engaged in attitudes and behaviors contrary to official protocol rules”for decided to punish him with a three-day salarydeduction penalty. However, this penalty was converted to a "reprimand" penaltydue to the fact that he had no prior disciplinary record, no public damage occurred as a result of the act committed, and the personnel had no malicious intent. The

lieutenantS.B.S.'s lawyer, İbrahim Yılmaz, also filed a lawsuit inBolu for the cancellation of this penalty. He filed a lawsuit with theAdministrative Court.

The Bolu Provincial Gendarmerie Command claimed that the action taken was in accordance with the law and requested that the casebe dismissed, while the Administrative Court, lastweek,issued awith the decision taken in thedays, it unanimously canceled the reprimand given to Lieutenant S.B.S.

In the justification for thecancellation; after attention was drawn to the orders issued by the Gendarmerie General Commandand the Bolu Provincial Gendarmerie Command, it was statedas follows:

“In this case; the plaintifffulfilled the orders given to him in accordancewith the procedure,and that checking the underside of the district governor's vehicle with a mirror was intended to ensure the safety of both the unit and thepassengers inside the vehicle,and that this situationwas not contrary toprotocol rules, and that thedid not violate the organization's rules,that the interior of the vehicle or its enclosedareas were not inspected,and that precautions were taken against a possible danger or threat only by holding a mirror underneath, that theseprecautions were taken, that the necessity of taking theseprecautions was specified in orders issued by the Gendarmerie General Command and the Provincial Gendarmerie Command, that the personnel fulfilled the instructions, and that failure to fulfill these instructions would result in liabilityseengiven that it was concluded that there was no compliance with the law in the action subject to the lawsuit.”It was concluded that the action subject to the lawsuit was not in accordance with the law.”

During thisprocess, LieutenantS.B.S.'s Superiorthat he was promoted to lieutenant and assigned as the highway gendarmerie commanderwasalso noted.

Müyesser YILDIZ

December 30, 2025