New development in the Sinan Ateş murder case: Ülkü Ocakları executive detained for threatening Chief Public Prosecutor

New details have emerged in the investigation conducted by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into the murder of former Ülkü Ocakları President Sinan Ateş.

According to a report by Alican Uludağ from DW Turkish, a suspicious call made by former MHP Mersin Deputy Olcay Kılavuz, who is a suspect in the Ateş murder investigation, has come to light. Olcay Kılavuz, who failed to be re-elected as a deputy in the May 14 elections, was accused of hiding former Ülkü Ocakları executive Tolgahan Demirbaş in his home. However, it has been learned that the accusations against Kılavuz were not limited to this. The phone of Tolgahan Demirbaş, who was detained at a house used by Kılavuz in Ankara's Bağlıca district, had been seized for examination. The examination revealed that Demirbaş had a FaceTime call with Olcay Kılavuz after the murder, and that Demirbaş went to Kılavuz's location following this call.

On the other hand, it has been learned that the prosecutor's office is conducting a special investigation into the dispute over whether Tolgahan Demirbaş was detained at Olcay Kılavuz's home. In this context, Demirbaş, who provided additional testimony, stated that he was not detained at Kılavuz's house. It is reported that the prosecutor's office may seek the testimony of the Homicide Bureau police officers who detained Demirbaş as witnesses in the coming period.

ÜLKÜ OCAKLARI EXECUTIVE ACCUSED OF THREATENING CHIEF PUBLIC PROSECUTOR

Meanwhile, two people were detained in connection with the targeting of Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor Ahmet Akça, who is leading the Sinan Ateş murder investigation, and investigating prosecutor Ayhan Ay by a social media account named 'Orhun Haber', which is close to the MHP. It has been learned that one of the two individuals detained is Ülkü Ocakları Deputy Chairman Mert Kerim Ejder. 

It is alleged that Ejder used the Orhun Haber account on the social media platform X. It was learned that the other suspect is Ejder's brother and that the detention period for both suspects has been extended by one day. It was stated that the suspects will be processed for the crimes of threatening, insulting, and slandering the chief public prosecutor and the investigating prosecutor. Furthermore, it is reported that an investigation is also being conducted into the continued targeting of Chief Public Prosecutor Akça via Orhun Haber following these detentions, and that the number of detainees may increase.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Former Ülkü Ocakları President Sinan Ateş was shot and killed with five bullets on December 30, 2022, in Çukurambar, one of the busiest areas of Ankara, by Eray Özyağcı, who is alleged to be the hitman. To date, 22 people have been arrested in connection with the murder. Special operations police officers Muratcan Çolak and Mert Gelenbey, who brought the hitman from Istanbul to Ankara, were also arrested as part of the investigation. In addition, Ülkü Ocakları Deputy Chairman Emre Yüksel, Tolgahan Demirbaş, MHP Istanbul Provincial executive Ufuk Köktürk, and MHP lawyer Serdar Öktem, who are accused of helping the hitman escape after the murder and are alleged to have organized the killing, remain in prison. The most critical step in the investigation, which is nearing its conclusion, will be the detention of the person identified as having incited the murder.