Did Policemen Face Investigation?

Police authorities released a statement, saying that 31 active-duty policemen faced investigation due to their conduct during Gezi Resistance protests with the files to be transferred to relevant disciplinary councils. 

However, Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy Galip Ensarioğlu attended Aykırı Sorular, a TV program, last night and said 164 policemen faced investigation:

“Culprits of those who died must be found. Those who used excessive force, those who left the limits of law… At the moment, 164 policemen are facing investigation regarding allegations on excessive force. An investigation on 164 policemen is still underway.

“Turkey never was a police state and it will be a justice state. We don’t accept any sovereignty above people in this country. We don’t also accept mentalities that aims to redesign the people. Several policemen were suspended, several municipal workers were suspended.

“Individual mistakes”

According to various newspapers, police authorities launched investigations on 32 police chiefs and 132 policemen regarding allegations of excessive force during Gezi Resistance protests. 

The majority of these policemen were on-active duty in İstanbul, Ankara, İzmir and Hatay provinces. 

Accordingly, investigators drafted a reported, saying that police officers “used excessive forces under certain measures” and “committed individual mistakes”. 

However, addressing press inquiries yesterday, Interior Minister Muammer Güler said the following on the investigation-facing policemen: 

“Those tolls have nothing to do with the issue. A process is launched and those who made a mistakes account for their faults. There is no reality with those numbers. They are imaginary. Investigations are being processed at disciplinary councils.

“Laws and regulations explicitly explain what disciplinary measures must be taken. Then we do whatever is necessary. All has the right to object investigations before administrational courts. Whoever is committing a mistake will face its consequences.” (AS/BM) 

* Click here to read the original article in Turkish.