Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek announced that 80 murders have been solved across 73 cases as part of efforts regarding cold case files. Gürlek stated that five separate cases in Manisa, Ankara, Batman, Aydın, and Istanbul have been re-examined, and that proceedings have been initiated against numerous suspects as part of the investigations.
Making a statement on his social media account, Gürlek noted that the Chief Public Prosecutor's Offices and law enforcement units are working together under the coordination of the Ministry's Department for Investigation of Unsolved Crimes. Gürlek stated that DNA analyses, criminal investigation reports, HTS and base station records, License Plate Recognition System data, and witness testimonies are being evaluated together.
In the investigation into the fate of Cennet Arıkan, who has been missing since 2015 in the Alaşehir district of Manisa, the communications and movements of the suspects on the date of the incident were re-examined. According to Gürlek, criminal analysis of HTS and base station records yielded data indicating that the suspects were in the same or nearby areas. In this context, 5 suspects were detained, and 4 were arrested.
New findings were also reached in the case of Uğur Şimşek, who disappeared in Ankara after arriving from Sivas in 2020. Gürlek announced that a human skull found in Gölbaşı in 2021 was determined to belong to Şimşek as a result of DNA analysis, and that 1 suspect was arrested following the evaluation of phone records and License Plate Recognition System data.
Information was obtained suggesting that Ekrem Bakar, who disappeared in the Kozluk district of Batman in 2014 and for whom a declaration of absence had been issued, may have been murdered and buried in a rural area. While 10 suspects were detained in simultaneous operations conducted in Batman and Antalya, 1 of the suspects was arrested.
In the case of Elife Doğrul, from whom no news has been heard since 2003 in the Söke district of Aydın, statements from past years and new information were re-evaluated. As part of the investigation, 7 suspects were apprehended and detained. In Istanbul, the phone and HTS records in the case of Sefa Soyalp, who disappeared after arriving from Kırıkkale in 2019, were examined; 6 suspects were detained in the operation conducted.
Thanking the Chief Public Prosecutor's Offices conducting the investigations, as well as the police, gendarmerie, AFAD teams, and the public personnel involved, Gürlek said, "Regardless of how much time has passed, we will continue to mobilize all our resources to determine the fate of our missing citizens, ensure the identification of those responsible, and stand by our families who are waiting for justice."
WE WILL BRING THE PERPETRATORS HIDING BEHIND THE YEARS TO JUSTICE: WE HAVE REMOVED 80 MURDERS IN 73 CASES FROM BEING COLD CASES! The fact that years have passed since a person went missing does not change the reality that their family is waiting for answers. A re-examined piece of evidence, a new witness statement, or a newly emerged finding can be decisive in shedding light on events that remained in the dark. By utilizing developing technological capabilities, we are evaluating DNA analyses, criminal investigation reports, HTS and base station records, License Plate Recognition System data, and witness testimonies together. We are meticulously continuing our work to ensure that new connections emerging in files from past years and no detail are overlooked. Under the coordination of our Ministry's Department for Investigation of Unsolved Crimes, and with the cooperation of our Chief Public Prosecutor's Offices and law enforcement units, 5 separate files in Manisa, Ankara, Batman, Aydın, and Istanbul have been re-addressed. ?? MANISA / ALAŞEHIR | CENNET ARIKAN – 11-YEAR-OLD COLD CASE In the investigation conducted on suspicion of murder regarding the fate of Cennet Arıkan, who has been missing since 2015, the communications and movements of the suspects on the date of the incident were re-examined. In the work of our Alaşehir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, data indicating that the suspects were in the same or nearby areas was obtained through criminal analysis of HTS and base records. Upon these findings, 5 suspects were detained, 4 were arrested. ?? ANKARA / GÖLBAŞI | UĞUR ŞIMŞEK – 6-YEAR-OLD COLD CASE In the file of Uğur Şimşek, who disappeared after coming to Ankara from Sivas in 2020, it was determined that the human skull found in Gölbaşı in 2021 belonged to him as a result of DNA analysis. In the investigation conducted by our Ankara West Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, phone records and License Plate Recognition System data were evaluated. In line with the evidence obtained, 1 suspect was arrested. ?? BATMAN / KOZLUK | EKREM BAKAR – 12-YEAR-OLD COLD CASE In the file of Ekrem Bakar, who disappeared in 2014 and for whom a declaration of absence was issued, information was reached suggesting that he may have been murdered and buried in a rural area. With the instruction of our Kozluk Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, witness statements and communication records were examined. 10 suspects were detained in simultaneous operations held in Batman and Antalya. 1 of the suspects was arrested. ?? AYDIN / SÖKE | ELIFE DOĞRUL – 23-YEAR-OLD COLD CASE In the file of Elife Doğrul, from whom no news has been heard since 2003, statements from past years regarding her disappearance and new information bringing the possibility of murder to the agenda were evaluated. In line with the findings obtained in the investigation conducted by our Söke Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, 7 suspects were apprehended and detained. ?? ISTANBUL | SEFA SOYALP – 7-YEAR-OLD COLD CASE In the file of Sefa Soyalp, who disappeared after coming to Istanbul from Kırıkkale in 2019, the people he lived with and contacted during the period he was last seen were researched. In line with the instructions of our Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, phone and HTS records were examined. 6 suspects were detained in the operation organized upon the findings obtained. I thank our Alaşehir, Ankara West, Kozluk, Söke, and Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Offices, which meticulously conduct the investigations; our police and gendarmerie organizations, AFAD teams, and all public officials who contributed. Regardless of how much time has passed, we will continue to mobilize all our resources to determine the fate of our missing citizens, ensure the identification of those responsible, and stand by our families who are waiting for justice.
— Akın Gürlek (@abakingurlek) November 9, 2026
News Source: 12punto
