Deputy Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek reportedly called Ankara Police Chief: 'Why are you monitoring me?'

Deputy Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek spoke to journalist İsmail Saymaz.

Gürlek stated that he called Ankara Police Chief Engin Dinç after allegations surfaced that a photograph of him, taken at an iftar dinner organized by deputy chief public prosecutors and criminal judges of peace at the Ankara Courthouse, was on Dinç's desk.

"THEY ARE GROUPS WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT"

Gürlek said, "I have no meeting regarding Atalay's file. I did not call him specifically. I have no dialogue. Is there a problem with this person? No," and speculated that the person who took the photograph in question was "most likely from groups within the Police Department."

"IT IS NOT AN INAPPROPRIATE PLACE"

Gürlek provided the following information regarding the evening the photograph was allegedly taken:

"We had an iftar with deputy chief public prosecutors, judges, and prosecutors. There were also lawyer friends there. I left early. They came to see me off. The lawyer had a friend with him. They were two steps down, and I was two steps up. It is not an inappropriate place. I have no meeting regarding Atalay's file. I did not call him specifically. I have no dialogue. Is there a problem with this person? No. Do I have an inappropriate photo? No."

"WHAT KIND OF SCENARIO ARE THEY GOING TO WRITE?"

Stating that he is considering filing a complaint, Gürlek noted that other individuals who were allegedly being monitored had reached out to him and stated the following:

"Victimized friends also came to me. We are evaluating the situation. They said, 'Let's act together.' An administrative inspection has been launched; I might wait for that. I will not bear false witness against anyone. I really don't know if there is a photograph or not. But this is what I am told. Why did they take this photograph; what kind of scenario are they going to write? I have no information."

"WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE?"

Explaining that his suspicions increased further after the secret witness scandal in the Ayhan Bora Kaplan case, Gürlek continued as follows:

"I have a background as a judge and prosecutor. I know how these things work. This is a process similar to the Selam-Tevhid investigation. Why are you monitoring me without a court order? What is your purpose in following me? I am a deputy minister. I can meet with anyone."

HAS THE INTERNAL WAR IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SPREAD TO THE JUDICIARY?

Saymaz assessed that "the confrontation between Gürlek and Dinç shows that the internal war within the Police Department, which was exposed by the Ayhan Bora Kaplan case, has spread to the judiciary."