5 out of 10 people could not leave prison: Those released in the Sinan Ateş murder case were convicted of other crimes

Ersin Eroğlu / 12punto EXCLUSIVE

Ten people were released on July 5 in the trial of 22 defendants regarding the assassination of former Ülkü Ocakları President Sinan Ateş.
It has been learned that among those released, former MHP provincial executive Ufuk Köktürk, Erdem Karadeniz, Umut Ersoy, Hakan Saraç, and Mehmet Yüce could not leave prison because they were convicted in other cases.

WHAT ARE THEY ACCUSED OF IN THE SINAN ATEŞ MURDER

Ufuk Köktürk: One of the names who met Doğukan Çep in prison. Köktürk sent money to Çep one day before the murder. The money sent to Çep was transferred through the account of Köktürk's wife and then through the account of Zekeriya Asarkaya. Köktürk was also an MHP provincial executive at the time of the murder.

Erdem Karadeniz: He spent 17 months in prison for attempted intentional homicide. He had been a fugitive for four years. He has known Doğukan Çep for about 5 years. While stating that he does not know Eray Özyağcı, he claimed that he had no connection to the murder. Karadeniz is included in the file because the suspects stayed at a hotel he is alleged to effectively own, and he is accused of aiding and abetting the murder.

Umut Ersoy: Ersoy, who is a taxi driver, also stated that he did not know Sinan Ateş and that he knew Doğukan Çep by the name 'Cuma'. He claimed that he knew Eray Özyağcı because he saw him with Doğukan Çep, but that he was not close with him. Ersoy alleged that he did not know there were arrest warrants for Çep and Özyağcı. He is known for transporting Çep and Özyağcı.

Hakan Saraç: He took Eray Özyağcı and Suat Kurt to Zekeriya Asarkaya's house. He was released from prison in 2022 under Covid-19 measures. He had previously been convicted of robbery and entered prison in 2006. He explained that he knew Zekeriya Asarkaya because they stayed in the same ward at Çankırı Prison.

Mehmet Yüce: He is mentioned in the indictment as the seller of the motorcycle used by Eray Özyağcı and Vedat Balkaya in the incident where Sinan Ateş was killed. Yüce claims that he has no other connection to the incident.

ALL OF THOSE RELEASED

The full list of those released on July 5 is as follows:

Ufuk Köktürk, Mehmet Yüce, Erdem Karadeniz, Osman Bayraktar, Zekeriya Asarkaya, Hakan Saraç, Aytaç Ataç, Caner Günay, Umut Ersoy, and Alper Atay.

SELMA ATEŞ HAD REBELLED TO 12PUNTO

In the trial regarding the murder of former Ülkü Ocakları President Sinan Ateş, the prosecution will present its final opinion on the merits tomorrow. Speaking to 12punto, Sinan Ateş's sister, Selma Ateş, rebelled against the early announcement of the opinion, stating, "It is saddening that while children who steal bread in this country receive 7-year sentences, those involved in this murder are being rushed to be released and there is an attempt to close the file. Our only wish is justice. If justice does not come from here, our fight will have just begun."

News Source: 12punto