'Criminal organization' investigation into former Ankara Police Chief Servet Yılmaz: Permission awaited from the Ministry

A file has been prepared and proceedings initiated against former Ankara Police Chief and current Ministry of Interior Baku Advisor Servet Yılmaz in connection with Ayhan Bora Kaplan, who is being tried on charges of being an organized crime group leader.

"YOU WILL LEAVE"

According to the report by Asuman Aranca from T24: It is alleged that during his tenure as Ankara Police Chief, Yılmaz forced an individual who had filed a complaint against Kaplan to leave Ankara, and that this person was forced to leave the city under police escort.

The Prosecutor's Office requested permission from the Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSK) to conduct an investigation, as he is a first-class police chief. The HSK stated that the allegations did not fall within the scope of judicial duties and pointed out that the decision on this matter rests with the Ministry of Interior. At this stage, the Prosecutor's Office is expected to request investigation permission from the Ministry of Interior to proceed with the investigation.

A tradesman named Yusuf Aydın went to the Police Department last January and alleged that "Ayhan Bora Kaplan and his men intervened to cash a check worth 14.2 million liras he had received in exchange for a trade," and claimed that he was forced to leave Ankara under pressure from former Ankara Police Chief Servet Yılmaz and his deputy Alp Arslan.

Aydın had stated, "A police officer said, 'This is upon the instruction of our Police Chief Servet Yılmaz and the request of Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu. You will leave Ankara.' Police officers even came to my house and escorted me as I left Ankara."

Stating that the checks were "cashed" after being taken from him without payment, Aydın filed a complaint against 15 people, claiming he suffered a total loss of 32 million liras.

"CRUSH THEM UNTIL MORNING"

Following this complaint by Aydın, the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office Bureau of Investigation into Public Official Crimes sent the file on Servet Yılmaz to the HSK on January 16, 2024, due to his status as a former "highest-ranking law enforcement officer" and the fact that they are subject to the same trial procedures as judges.

The 1st Chamber of the HSK, which convened on May 14, added the file to its agenda. The Chamber evaluated the allegations that Yılmaz, "together with former Deputy Ankara Police Chief Alp Aslan, used the power granted by the state in line with the interests of Ayhan Bora Kaplan; threatened Aydın to leave Ankara through the Organized Crime Branch teams in front of a restaurant in Çukurambar during the month of Ramadan in 2023; gave instructions to the police officers present while Aydın and his friends were being held at the Yeni Batı Police Station, saying, 'If they don't leave Ankara within 15 minutes, throw them all in the detention cell and crush them until morning'; and caused the police officers to make statements to Aydın such as 'You will face the wrath of both Bora Kaplan and Yılmaz' if he did not return the checks in his possession."

"NOT A DUTY-RELATED CRIME"

The Chamber decided to send the file to the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office "for the necessary actions to be taken within the framework of the provisions to which he is subject," on the grounds that the alleged crimes did not fall within the scope of crimes arising from official duties. The decision was taken unanimously. In accordance with the "Law No. 4483 on the Trial of Civil Servants and Other Public Officials," the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office must now request permission from the Ministry of Interior to conduct an investigation into Yılmaz. If the Ministry of Interior grants permission, an investigation into Yılmaz could be conducted, which could lead to either a decision of non-prosecution or the filing of a lawsuit.