Trial Process In Susurluk Case Lasts Nearly Four Year And Seven Months

ISTANBUL, Jan 15 (A.A) - The trial process in Susurluk case which started following the traffic accident that took place in Susurluk on November 3, 1996, lasted nearly four years and seven months.
The Eighth Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court of Appeals approved on Tuesday the imprisonments given to 14 suspects including former special team department acting chairman Ibrahim Sahin and former National Intelligence Organization (MIT) official Korkut Eken.
Sahin and Eken were sentenced to six years and the other 12 suspects were sentenced to four year. The trial started at Istanbul State Security Court (DGM) No. 6 on June 2, 1997.
A Mercedes car hit a lorry on November 3, 1996 in Susurluk. Former Istanbul deputy security director Huseyin Kocadag, Mafia chief Abdullah Catli and his girlfriend Gunca Us died in the accident and True Path Party (DYP) deputy Sedat Edip Bucak was injured. All of them were in the same car.
Istanbul DGM Chief Prosecutor's Office started an investigation as the accident revealed the relation between ''police, Mafia and politics.''
Special team police officers Ayhan Carkin, Oguz Yorulmaz and Ercan Ersoy were arrested on January 13, Mustafa Altunok and Enver Ulu and the driver of Bucak were arrested on January 14, Ibrahim Sahin was arrested on March 11, Ziya Bandirmalioglu and Ayhan Akca were arrested on March 12, Yasar Oz was arrested on April 8, Ali Fevzi Bir was captured on October 9, 1997 and Sami Hostan was arrested on February 6, 1998 within the scope of the investigation.
The Chief Prosecutor who completed the investigation on March 6, 1997, filed a suit in the name of the public asking for imprisonment terms changing between 5-9 years.
The first hearing of Susurluk case was heard at Istanbul DGM No. 6 on June 2, 1997.
Istanbul State Security Court (DGM) Chief Prosecutor's Office sent a record of investigation on Feb.11, 1997 to Parliament Chairmanship asking Parliament to lift the immunity of then Interior Minister Mehmet Agar and Sanliurfa Deputy Sedat Edip Bucak.
Agar's immunity was lifted during a vote at Parliament General Council on Dec. 11,1997.
DGM reached a verdict on Feb.12, 2001 and sentenced Ibrahim Sahin and Korkut Eken to six years in prison for forming an organization to commit crime and rule the organization. Former policemen Ayhan Carkin, Ayhan Akca, Oguz Yorulmaz, Enver Ulu, Mustafa Altunok, Ercan Ersoy and Ziya Bandirmalioglu, Bucak's driver Abdulgani Kizilkaya, Haluk Kirci and international drug smuggler Yasar Oz, Topal's business partners Sami Hostan and Ali Fevzi Bir to four years.
Special Operations Department former Acting Chairman Ibrahim Sahin who was sentenced to six years will spend 694 days in prison since he already spent 185 days at Metris Prison.
Forcer National Intelligence Agency (MIT) official Korkut Eken will spend 879 days in prison. Yasar Oz who is already in prison and Haluk Kirci will spend 481 and 431 days in prison.