Expanding Gülistan Doku murder investigation reveals network spanning state institutions
The investigation into the 2020 disappearance of university student Gülistan Doku is expanding after it was reopened in April, with more than 30 suspects detained over the past two weeks.
The latest operation yesterday targeted law enforcement personnel suspected of interfering with evidence. Police launched raids in 15 provinces, detaining 18 people, including police chiefs and serving and retired police officers, upon the order of the Erzurum Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.
'A shadowy network'
After a request by the office, an Erzurum court yesterday issued additional pretrial detention orders for former Tunceli governor Tuncay Sonel, his former bodyguard Şükrü Eroğlu and former police officer Gökhan Ertok, the primary suspects who were already in custody.
The new orders concern allegations of destroying or altering digital data, deprivation of liberty, aggravated robbery and unlawfully obtaining personal data.
The order was based on evidence recovered from Sonel's devices and could affect the course of the investigation according to the prosecutor's office.
The office described the recovered communication between the former governor and his bodyguard as "a shadowy network" where the suspects used their public authoritiy as an instrument in illegal activities, Mezopotamya Agency (MA) reported citing the investigation file.
Monitoring Doku's family illegally
The widening case now centers not only on what happened to Doku, but also on allegations that officials used their positions to monitor her family illegally after her disappearance.
MOTHER OF MISSING GÜLİSTAN DOKU
‘I will sit in this square until my daughter is found’
Last week, 15 suspects were remanded in custody, including former governor Sonel’s wife, Handan Sonel, who also face allegations related to spoliation of evidence.
The suspects detained included three doctors, a nurse, hospital and information technology employees, the owner of a technology company, a businessperson and two security guards.
The prosecutor’s office said investigators had obtained new findings concerning the deletion of medical records and coordinated efforts to conceal evidence regarding Doku.
Prosecutors are also investigating whether Doku’s body, which has never been found, was buried or otherwise disposed of.
Refuting police report, expert review of footage says Gülistan Doku did not jump off bridge
What happened?
Doku, a 21-year-old child development student at Munzur University, disappeared in Dersim (Tunceli) on Jan 5, 2020.
The initial investigation focused on the possibility that she had entered the Uzunçayır Dam Lake, because the last signal detected from her phone was near that area. No trace of her was found despite extensive searches and the draining of the reservoir.
For years, the case was largely treated as a disappearance or possible suicide.
Doku’s family repeatedly rejected that account and accused public officials of withholding evidence.
WHAT HAPPENED TO GÜLİSTAN DOKU?
Search efforts for missing Gülistan Doku ended again
The reopened investigation has shifted the focus toward a suspected killing and an alleged institutional cover-up extending through law enforcement, administrative bodies, hospitals and digital record systems.
Former Tunceli Governor Tuncay Sonel, as well as his son and security detail, have been placed in pretrial detention as the investigation continues.
(VK)
