No detained police officers left in ABK case: They were accused of helping the secret witness flee abroad

The second hearing of the trial involving police officers who carried out the operation against Bora Kaplan, who is alleged to be the leader of a criminal organization, but were later arrested on charges of helping secret witness Serdar Sertçelik flee abroad, began at 10:05.

The trial, held at the 13th Criminal Court of First Instance, took place in a high criminal court courtroom due to the large number of participants.

12punto columnist and journalist Müyesser Yıldız reported the developments moment by moment

Witnesses are being heard in the hearing.

The first witness heard, Onur Yavaş, explained that he did not receive any instructions from the defendants other than recording entries and exits for three days at the Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime (KOM) Branch on August 23, 2023.

The second witness, Çağlar Karataş, stated that he was the driver of the police team that obtained the report stating "There is a drawback to his detention" for Serdar Sertçelik, that they went to the hospital with the team leader Commissioner Ahmet Deniz, and that the team leader spoke with the doctor.

Çağlar Karataş said, "I learned why we went to the hospital and what was being obtained later."

'THE DOCTOR GAVE A 10-DAY REPORT'

The third witness, Ahmet Deniz, explained the following:

"I was responsible for the detention of someone other than Serdar Sertçelik. Since our work finished early, we went on standby. The Teams Chief Metehan İlkyaz asked me, either by message or verbally, to take Serdar Sertçelik into custody and meet with the team.

I called the team. When they were about to take him into custody, Serdar Sertçelik told a police officer named Resul that the doctor had given him a report stating he should not step on his foot for 10 days. Upon this, I called Ufuk Gültekin.

Commissioner Ufuk stated that Gökhan Karaca was dealing with Serdar Sertçelik. I called Commissioner Gökhan, and he told me to speak with the doctor who gave that report to Serdar Sertçelik."

'THE PROSECUTOR SAID HE DID NOT FIND IT SUFFICIENT'

We went to the hospital. The doctor gave that first report. We took this and delivered it to the project department. A few hours later, the project department contacted me. Commissioner Gökhan said that the Prosecutor did not find the report sufficient and that it should include the phrase 'There is/is no drawback to his detention'.

Upon this, I went to the doctor again. I explained the situation. He added the part 'There is a drawback to his detention' to the same report.

COLLECTIVE OATH PRACTICE

The judge asked witness Ahmet Deniz whether he had pressured the doctor.

Ahmet Deniz said, "There were nurses and healthcare workers present. It is not possible for me to put the doctor under pressure. I did not make a statement like 'We are the state.' I spoke entirely with the doctor and explained the situation. I was in plainclothes."

A remarkable practice was followed in the hearing of the witnesses. The judge said he would have them take the oath collectively after all three testimonies were finished, rather than before each witness's statement.

That is what happened; after the last witness Ahmet Deniz's statement was finished, he called the other two witnesses to the stand and had them take the oath.

After the witness statements, many defense attorneys, primarily Attorney Recep Öksüz, emphasized that the Prosecutor gave all the instructions, as can be seen in the WhatsApp correspondence.

When one of the defendants, Murat Çelik, was tearful while requesting his release, the Judge said, "Be at ease." When Çelik said, "My reputation has been toyed with. I want my reputation restored," the Judge told him to make requests within the scope of the court's duty.

Upon this, Murat Çelik requested his release and said, "I hope I will be acquitted and return to duty."

The Judge also expressed the wish, "I hope so."

Another defendant, Şevket Demircan, also said that he carried out the instructions he received from the judicial authorities of the state.

'IF THIS IS TRUE, I AM PROUD'

Noting that the Bora Kaplan operation was stated to be effective in Turkey's removal from the grey list, Demircan said, "If this is true, I am proud. Thank God we are here for baseless allegations, not for theft, bribery, or drugs."

Defendant Ufuk Gültekin spoke as follows:

"I am detained for petty crimes such as harboring a criminal and providing information from a file. Here are the Prosecutor's written orders. I have been in prison for 4 months because I did what the Prosecutor's requisitions required."

INTERIM DECISION MADE

The Ankara 13th Criminal Court of First Instance issued a release decision for all detained defendants in the trial regarding the smuggling of Serdar Sertçelik, a defendant and secret witness in the Ayhan Bora Kaplan criminal organization case, abroad.