18-year prison sentence for former deputy police chief

In the investigation launched into the incident, the prosecution had requested a 30-year prison sentence for the police chief.

Former Edirne Deputy Police Chief Zeki Ağsakal was sentenced to 18 years and 4 months in prison in the trial where he was charged with drug trafficking, while the other 3 defendants were each sentenced to 9 years and 2 months in prison.

WHAT HAD HAPPENED?

On November 18, 2022, 13 kilograms and 250 grams of cannabis were seized by customs enforcement teams during a search of a pickup truck with license plate 34 FYE 532, which had entered Turkey through the Pazarkule Border Gate from Greece, following suspicion.

Within the scope of the investigation conducted by the Edirne Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, Ahmet Uygur, Serkan Aydoğu, and Birol Eroğlu were arrested in connection with the drugs. Zeki Ağsakal, the former Edirne Deputy Police Chief of the period, who was alleged to have assisted the drug traffickers, was taken into custody.

It was alleged that defendant Serkan Aydoğdu had sent 643 thousand TL to Zeki Ağsakal through 180 separate transactions.

In his opinion, the prosecutor included the following views regarding Ağsakal:

"It was read again that the investigation was expanded in line with the statements of defendant Birol Eroğlu, that it was determined through camera footage that defendants Serkan Aydoğdu and Zeki Ağsakal were seen together in the province of Edirne, that physical surveillance confirmed the defendants sat together and spoke in various venues in Edirne, that research conducted in line with defendant Birol's statements determined that defendant Serkan Aydoğdu had sent money to defendant Birol Eroğlu through Birol's relatives, that it was determined defendant Serkan Aydoğdu had sent 643 thousand TL to defendant Zeki Ağsakal through 180 transactions, and that it was proven by witness statements that the vehicle in which defendant Birol was caught with the drugs had been found by defendant Zeki Ağsakal previously, and that after defendant Birol was caught, defendant Zeki Ağsakal had attempted to provide a lawyer for Birol."

In the trial held at the Edirne 1st High Criminal Court, the prosecutor announced his final opinion on the merits regarding the defendants. The detained defendants and Zeki Ağsakal, who was under house arrest, were present at the hearing.

Presenting his defense, Zeki Ağsakal stated that he did not accept the accusations against him and requested his acquittal.

Ağsakal’s lawyer also requested his client's acquittal, stating that there was no concrete evidence regarding the allegations. Zeki Ağsakal was sentenced to 18 years and 4 months in prison for the crime of 'manufacturing, importing, or exporting narcotic or stimulant substances without a license or in violation of a license.'

The other defendants, Ahmet Uygur, Serkan Aydoğu, and Birol Eroğlu, were sentenced to 9 years and 2 months each, benefiting from effective remorse provisions, and were released under judicial control conditions."