Secret witness attempted suicide: 'I was used!'

A statement made by CHP Chairman Özgür Özel regarding a secret witness mentioned in operations targeting the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) has sparked a major controversy. In a rally held in October, Özel claimed that one of the secret witnesses involved in the operations against the İBB had attempted suicide at the Çağlayan Courthouse.

Following Özel's remarks, CHP Group Deputy Chairman Murat Emir shared a video on social media of the person who attempted suicide at the courthouse. However, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office denied these claims, announcing that the footage belonged to a private citizen.

NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THE SUICIDE ATTEMPT

Following the incident, statements made by İdris Özcelep, who had provided testimony as a secret witness, regarding his suicide attempt on August 26, 2025, have emerged. In his statement to the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, Özcelep noted that despite being promised that he would remain a secret witness, his name was shared with the public, which he perceived as an insult to his honor. Özcelep stated that he attempted suicide because he "felt that his honor was played with and that he was used."

 RAIDED İSKİ, ISSUED THREATS

İdris Özcelep had previously attacked the İSKİ General Directorate and threatened General Manager Şafak Başa with death after his request for a mining license in Istanbul's Pendik district was rejected. 

STATEMENT REGARDING THE SUICIDE ATTEMPT REVEALED

According to a report in Gazete Pencere, Özcelep's statement to the prosecutor's office regarding the suicide attempt at the Çağlayan Courthouse has also come to light. Özcelep stated that he had gone to the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office before the suicide attempt and had not received a response to his request for a meeting. He indicated that he attempted to jump from the balcony because he was not attended to when he arrived at the Palace of Justice.

In his statement, Özcelep said the following:

"On the day of the incident in question, August 26, 2025, around 16:00, I came to the Istanbul Palace of Justice to meet with the Chief Public Prosecutor regarding my case at the 4th Administrative Court. I explained the situation to the security guard and the private secretary present there and conveyed my request for a meeting. The woman whose name I do not know, who was the private secretary, took a photocopy of the document I had and went inside. She returned about 5 minutes later. She tried to send me away by saying that the Chief Public Prosecutor had guests and could not deal with this matter at the moment."

FELT HE WAS “USED” AS A SECRET WITNESS

Özcelep stated that although he was promised that his testimony would be given as a secret witness, his name was shared with the public, and he considered this an insult to his honor. For this reason, he stated that he attempted suicide the moment he was not granted a meeting. In his statement to the police, he used the following words:

"I am on the victim and complainant side regarding the İBB. I have given testimony about this before. They told me my information would remain confidential. However, after the operations, my name was shared with the public. I felt that my honor was played with and that I was used. I could not accept it."

STATEMENT FROM THE CHIEF PUBLIC PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE

Following Özcelep's suicide attempt, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office stated that the claims regarding the incident did not reflect the truth. The Prosecutor's Office emphasized that the person who attempted suicide on August 26 was not a secret witness within the scope of the investigation and announced that the footage in question belonged to a private citizen. However, the fact that Özcelep said "I was used" in his statements and that the incident was related to secret witnesses has made the matter even more complex.

Özcelep stated that he had gone to the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office before the suicide attempt to request a meeting but decided to commit suicide because he was ignored. The rejection of his meeting request and the public disclosure of his name indicate that Özcelep was going through a difficult psychological process.

The testimonies of secret witnesses regarding the İBB operations and subsequent developments carry significant elements that will affect the course of the trials. İdris Özcelep's suicide attempt highlights the difficulties and pressures faced by secret witnesses. However, the details regarding the judicial process and the secret witnesses have not yet been clarified.

News Source: 12punto