Testimony of former Transport Minister Arif Ahmet Denizolgun's doctor emerges: I may have misidentified it as blood

The testimony given as a witness on August 26 by Dr. Nurettin Demirkol, who was detained on charges of "perjury" as part of the investigation conducted by the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into the death of former Transport Minister Arif Ahmet Denizolgun, has emerged.

In his testimony as a 'witness', Demirkol stated that he did not know who had made the emergency call on the day of the incident. Demirkol said he knew Arif Ahmet Denizolgun because he had examined him a few times, and that he knew the person named Alihan Kuriş from the press. Demirkol stated, "To my knowledge, he only had hypertension. He had no other health issues. I had never been to the farm except for the day of the incident. I didn't even know he had a farm. I do not know the individuals named R.K. and A.S. at all. As for M.B., he used to live in the apartment building where I previously resided.

Therefore, I only know him by name. Other than that, I do not know whether these individuals worked with Arif Ahmet Denizolgun. Since a lot of time has passed since the incident, I do not remember who called me. Although I do not remember the exact time, it was dark, it was night. I do not remember exactly what they said when they called me. I went to the farm alone. They probably sent me a location. However, I do not remember who sent the location or how, because a lot of time has passed since the incident.

Regarding the moments he first saw Denizolgun after his death upon arriving at the scene, Demirkol said, "When I arrived, the deceased was in a sitting position on a sofa bed, but he had slipped a bit and was in a semi-reclining position. I do not remember exactly what he was wearing. However, it was not an official uniform. When I arrived, rigor mortis had begun in the deceased. Consequently, there were bruises. I did not see any bruises related to him being beaten, nor did I see any scratches on his body. I did not see any blood on his face or anywhere on his body," he said.

"I may have misidentified the dark-colored fluid coming from the stomach due to death as blood"

Regarding the day of the incident, Demirkol said, "On the day of the incident, I may have misidentified the dark-colored fluid coming from the stomach due to death as blood. I am not a forensic medicine expert. I signed the document given to us on the day of the incident as it was. It may have been recorded incorrectly in the reports. There was definitely no blood on the deceased's face. There were post-mortem bruises on the front of his body. However, I do not remember if there were bruises on his face. When I arrived, the deceased was in a sitting position on the sofa. He was in the same place when the police arrived. Later, the police moved the deceased to the floor. I do not remember if the prosecutor had arrived by then. Because there were many civilians other than uniformed personnel, I do not know who was police and who was a prosecutor. I remember that Murat B. and a foreign national were at the farm when I arrived. Other than them, there is no one I can say ‘these people were also at the farm’.

There were people coming and going while we were there. However, I do not know their names. I wouldn't be able to identify them if I saw them. I do not remember whether Ahmet G., Ahmet Y., and Alihan Kuriş came to the scene. When I went to the scene, I only said that the person had passed away. I did not make an assessment as if he were a suspect. I do not know who called the medical team and the police, or at what time. I do not remember the exact time I arrived at the scene. However, the police teams arrived at the scene about an hour after I did.

These teams later transferred the file to a higher-level team. There were even discussions about taking the deceased to Beykoz State Hospital. However, later, the prosecutor who arrived at the scene near morning said that the person would be sent to the Forensic Medicine Institute in Bakırköy. I gave my statement to the prosecutor while I was inside the farm on the day of the incident. This is the statement I mentioned. The statement I gave in the heat of the moment is correct. However, I am not sure about the part where I said blood was coming from his mouth. Perhaps that day, I may have interpreted the fluid coming from the stomach due to death as blood," he said.

Demirkol said, "I have heard the names of the individuals named Recep O., Yusuf B., and Ahmet S. However, I do not know them. I know the person named Hasan E. by name; I would recognize him if I saw him. However, I have no intimacy with him. There was someone named Fatih in the apartment building where I used to live. However, I do not know if he is Fatih Ö. I know Mustafa Ç. by name because he used to come to the hospital. I do not know if he is the same Mustafa Çelik. I was at my own residence in Kısıklı on the day of the incident. I have no information regarding any of the questions you asked. Since a lot of time has passed since the incident, I do not remember anything," he said.

In the continuation of his statement, Demirkol said, "I have no information regarding this matter. I did not even know that the deceased had a farm or that he went there. I do not know anything about what happens within the community. I am not aware of the statements you mentioned. I do not know whether Alihan Kuriş declared his leadership. The funeral of the deceased was taken away by the police. As far as I know, the funeral was not brought to Hisar Hospital. I know that the funeral was taken out of the farm and taken to the Forensic Medicine Institute on the day of the incident. In fact, upon the police telling me that I needed to go, I went to the Forensic Medicine Institute in a vehicle I do not remember now.

I do not remember who else came. There was a crowd at the farm when the funeral was leaving. However, I do not know who was among them. I do not know how many of us went to the Forensic Medicine Institute with the police. I do not remember whether Ahmet Gökçen was at the scene. A lot of time has passed since the incident. I did not have a dialogue with anyone when I went to the Forensic Medicine Institute.

The funeral was taken directly from the farm to the Forensic Medicine Institute by the police. I accompanied them. I do not remember who else was there. It was definitely not taken to Hisar Hospital beforehand. However, I do not know if it was taken there afterwards. I have no information regarding this matter. I do not know why it was written that way in the report. I was sleepless and tired due to the time of the incident. I do not have a private doctor-patient relationship with the deceased. There is no name I can report as a witness to the incident. Since a lot of time has passed since the incident, I do not remember anything at all," he said.