Former İstanbul Security Director Hüseyin Çapkın Arrested

Click to read the article in Turkish

Former İstanbul Security Director Hüseyin Çapkın, who had been taken into custody on August 30 as part of the investigation into the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization/Parallel State Structure, was arrested on September 3.  

Within the investigation, run by İstanbul Public Chief Prosecutor’s Office, 12 suspects had been taken into custody earlier, including the detained former İstanbul Governor Hüseyin Avni Mutlu, seven governors appointed to the central administration, a vice-governor and three district governors.  

Upon being asked about the National Intelligence Organization (MİT) Undersecretary Hakan Fidan being summoned to testify and some directors having their assigned places of duty changed subsequently, the arrested Former İstanbul Governor Hüseyin Avni Mutlu in his testimony has responded:

“I can’t know the close colleagues of the security director like he does. The true addressee of this question is İstanbul Security Director Hüseyin Çapkın. I have discharged the vice-security director in charge of the National Intelligence Service. The Provincial Security Director is in the position to explain the meaning and reason for the changes in the positions of those lower in the hierarchy”.

Who is Hüseyin Çapkın?

Hüseyin Çapkın was appointed police chief of his native İzmir Province in 2006. On June 29, 2009, he became police chief of Istanbul Province. On May 13, 2010, Çapkın was appointed province governor of Iğdır.

After a brief time at this post, he returned to his former post as the police chief of Istanbul Province on May 29 that year. Çapkın received much praise  as he was successful in catching the long-wanted murderer of a decapitated girl shortly after his appointment in Istanbul. He was dismissed from his post of Istanbul Police Chief on December 19, 2013 amid a bribery probe into high-profile figures that had been launched two days before. As part of the same investigation, six of his assistants were also removed from their posts. (HK/DG)