AYAS - Korkut Eken, former Deputy Chairman of Security Department of Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MIT), was released from prison on Wednesday after serving part of his 6-year prison term.
Eken was tried in 1996 as regards his role in Susurluk case. He was charged under Article 313 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) of ''forming a gang to commit crimes'' and was sentenced to six years of imprisonment. Korkut Eken was imprisoned on March 1st, 2002. He was cheered by his supporters when leaving the prison.
A traffic accident that occurred in 1996 near Susurluk township of Balikesir exposed the existence of a state-Mafia-politics triangle. A super-luxurious Mercedes ran full-speed into a truck, killing a Police Chief Huseyin Kocadag, an ''ultranationalist'' gang leader, along with alleged murderer Abdullah Catli and his girlfriend, Gonca Us. True Path Party (DYP) Urfa deputy and clan chieftain Sedat Bucak escaped the accident with some injuries.
Custom-made rifles to be used in assassinations and their bullets, forged ID cards and false gun licenses signed by Mehmet Agar, a former interior minister, were found scattered in the car. The ominous incident, which occurred while a fugitive gang leader and a multiple-homicide suspect, a senior member of the police and a parliamentary deputy were sharing the same vehicle, was instrumental in disclosing the state-Mafia-politics triangle.
(BRC-ULG) 28.07.2004