Mansur Yavaş reacts to detention: 'It undermines trust in the law'

CHP Ankara Provincial Chair Ümit Erkol was detained in Ankara yesterday as part of an investigation into cooperatives linked to the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality. Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş made a statement on social media regarding Erkol's detention. Yavaş pointed out that the practice harms the legal process.

DETENTION BASED ON EXPERT REPORT

Yavaş explained that Erkol was taken from his home based on an expert report prepared within the framework of an investigation that has been ongoing for over a year, and that the detention process is continuing in İzmir. Criticizing Erkol's detention, Yavaş stated the following:

"Our provincial chair, who has no risk of flight or possibility of tampering with evidence, could have had his statement taken in Ankara via instruction, or he could have been invited to provide a statement."

WHAT HAPPENED?

A detention order had been issued for 10 people, including Ümit Erkol, as part of the cooperative investigation in İzmir. Erkol, who was detained in Ankara, was taken to İzmir. The İzmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office had made the following statement regarding the detention:

"Within the scope of the investigation initiated regarding irregularities concerning İzbeton AŞ, a subsidiary of the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, an investigation was conducted into the crimes of embezzlement, qualified fraud, official forgery, and neglect of supervisory duty regarding the procurement of benefits by making business people the Gaziemir Building Cooperative within the scope of Urban Transformation and Development Area projects in the Gaziemir district of İzmir province. Based on the complaint petition of the new cooperative board of directors, the statements of the victims, and expert reports, an operation was carried out on April 9 against 10 suspects identified as İzbeton AŞ officials, cooperative Board of Directors members, and Supervisory Board members at the time of the crimes, and a detention order was issued. 9 of the 10 suspects for whom detention orders were issued have been apprehended and taken into custody."

News Source: 12punto