Investigation into bomb check on official vehicle in Bolu: New testimonies emerge

In an incident that occurred in the Dörtdivan district of Bolu, the fact that a bomb check was performed on the official vehicle of Acting District Governor Oğuz Yiğit upon his entry to the District Gendarmerie Command led to the removal of District Gendarmerie Commander Lieutenant S.B.S. from his post. 

On July 26, Yiğit's official-plated vehicle, which was visiting the District Gendarmerie Command, was stopped at the gate and subjected to a security check. The underside of the vehicle was checked with a mirror, and it was kept waiting at the gate entrance for a while.

'ONLY THE DISTRICT GOVERNOR'S OFFICIAL VEHICLE WAS CHECKED'

Following the reporting of the incident, an investigation was launched, and Lieutenant S.B.S. was removed from his position and reassigned to the Bolu Provincial Gendarmerie Command. 

In a statement made by the Bolu Governor's Office, it was stated, "It has been determined that none of the 26 vehicles that entered the gendarmerie gate between July 23 and 25 were checked in any way, and that only the district governor's official vehicle was kept waiting and checked."

LIEUTENANT S.B.S: 'I ACTED ACCORDING TO ORDERS'

In his testimony to civil inspectors, Lieutenant S.B.S. stated that he gave the instruction for the bomb check on the district governor's official vehicle in accordance with orders.

 Lieutenant S.B.S. stated, "There are orders regarding the checking of official and civilian vehicles. Furthermore, what I learned in counter-terrorism courses about how easy it is to place explosives in vehicles was also influential in my decision to take this action."

CHECK WAS ONLY PERFORMED DURING THE FIRST VISIT

Regarding the civil inspector's question about whether the official vehicles of previous district governors had been checked, Lieutenant S.B.S. stated that the former district governor's vehicle was also checked during his first visit, but that it was not done again as no such request was made later. The lieutenant said that the vehicles of all superiors and commanders visiting the District Gendarmerie Command were also checked.

'THE PROVINCIAL GENDARMERIE COMMANDER'S VEHICLE SHOULD ALSO BE CHECKED'

In response to the civil inspector's question about whether the Provincial Gendarmerie Commander's vehicle was checked during his visit on April 30, 2024, Lieutenant S.B.S. stated that he did not give such an order for that day, but that the Provincial Gendarmerie Commander's vehicle should also be checked.