Dink Murder Case: Former İstanbul Governor Testifies on His Meeting with Dink

Photo: Agos

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The 26th session in the case of the killing of journalist Hrant Dink was completed yesterday (June 13) at the İstanbul 14th Heavy Penal Court.

At the end of the three-day session, the court has ruled for the continuation of the arrest of the defendants, files of nine defendants including Ogün Samast and Yasin Hayal shall be separated and the case file shall be sent to the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office for the preparation of the prosecutor's opinion as to the accusations.

During three days, numerous witnesses testified before the court, including then Governor of İstanbul Muammer Güler, who spoke about his meeting with Dink at the governor's office on a series of articles by the journalist.

Güler also claimed the İstanbul Security Directorate had no relation to the killing, questioning why the Trabzon Security Directorate did not give the intelligence it obtained to the İstanbul police.

Two officers from the National Intelligence Organization (MİT), Hüseyin Kubilay Günay and Özel Yılmaz, were expected to testify in the case in the 93rd hearing which took place yesterday; yet they did not because the MİT did not answer the court's written request.

Day one: No response from MİT

Mustafa Kuletaş, a police officer who was working at the Trabzon Anti-Terror Branch, and Muhammet Kırmacı, a friend of Yasin Hayal and Erhan Tuncel and a college student in Trabzon at the time, testified as witnesses.

MIT personnel Hüseyin Kubilay Günay and Handan Selçuk were expected to testify on Wednesday and Friday, but the MIT did not respond to a written request by the court.

Four defendants, with none of them being under arrest, were present at the 91st hearing: Then Trabzon Provincial Gendarmerie Commander Colonel Ali Öz, Trabzon Provincial Gendarmerie Commandership officer Volkan Şahin, Director of Security of Trabzon Reşat Altay and police officer Muhittin Zenit.

Day two: Former governor testifies

Former Governor of İstanbul Muammer Güler testified in Wednesday's (June 14) hearing, claiming that the İstanbul Directorate of Security had no responsibility for the murder.

Güler served as the Governor of İstanbul between 2003 and 2010, and the Minister of Interior in 2013.

On the meeting between himself, Deputy Governor Ergun Güngör and MİT personnel at the Governor's office on February 24, 2004, Güler said that Hrant Dink's 2004 article on Sabiha Gökçen, the first female pilot of Turkey, caused "indignance" among the society and this was told to the MİT personnel Özel Yılmaz and Handan Selçuk.

On his meeting with Dink at the governor's office, Güler said, "It is a meeting that has no relation to the murder. It is a meeting that was held at the office of the deputy governor who is responsible for the minorities (Ergun Güngör).

The meeting was held for "receiving information from Hrant Dink, asking him the source of the report and sharing sentiments with him" and there was no "threat and pressure," Güler said.

On why they did not give Dink a bodyguard, Güler cited the regulations, saying that the security directorate gave an opinion to him that Dink does not want a bodyguard.

Saying that the İstanbul Security Directorate had no relation to the killing, Güler pointed out to the Trabzon Security Directorate.

"We know that an 11-month investigation was conducted by the Trabzon Provincial Directorate of Security. But we also know that only one notice related to this was sent to the İstanbul Provincial Directorate of Security and this was a raw note.

"We know that the director of the intelligence branch had no knowledge of this raw note. The governor is given information on only very important subjects. I was not given such information. I was not given any information on the appointment of bodyguards [for Hrant Dink]."

Day three: Samat and Hayal's files separated

Then Deputy Governor of İstanbul Ergun Güngör, who was present at the Bursa Heavy Penal Court to testify via teleconference could not attend the hearing due to a technical problem in the National Judiciary Informatics System (UYAP).

The Prosecutor requested the cases of nine defendants to be separated to prevent a possible statute of limitations ending and there is no more evidence to collect.

Among the arrested defendants, Ramazan Akyürek, Ercan Gün, Ali Fuat Yılmazer and Muharrem Demirkale requested their release, which the court rejected.

The court ruled that the case files of nine defendants shall be separated: Yasin Hayal, Osman Hayal, Erhan Tuncel, Ogün Samast, Ahmet İskender, Zeynel Abidin Yavuz, Ersin Yolcu, Salih Hacısalihoğlu, Tuncay Uzundal. (HA/VK)