Former Interior Minister Evades Justice Again In Susurluk Case

Supreme Court of Appeals reached the decision of lack of jurisdiction in the case of former president of the True Path Party (DYP) Mehmet Ağar, who was on trial for the crime of “forming an organization to commit crime” during the period when he was the head of the Police Department.

The 1^st Chamber of the State Council had decided to try Mehmet Ağar, and State Council’s Administrative Works Committee had confirmed the decision by rejecting an objection against the case. However, the 8^th chamber of the Supreme Court of Appeals rejected the case by declaring lack of jurisdiction on the grounds that Ağar was a governor at the time of the crime. Therefore, the chamber sent Ağar’s file to Ankara’s High Criminal Court.  

Inspection of Ağar’s involvement in Susurluk conspiracy began after his immunity was removed, but he could not be taken to the court since he was a deputy of the DYP for a while. He is seen as the main actor of the Susurluk conspiracy. The Susurluk case started with a traffic accident at Susurluk, a town near Balıkesir in Western Turkey, on November 3, 1996. The accident revealed connections between the Istanbul police, the nationalist Grey Wolves organisation, and politicians.     (NZ/EZÖ/TB)