Adil Öksüz being hidden by some: Justice minister

ANKARA

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Adil Öksüz, one of the prime suspects in the July 2016 coup attempt, is being protected by some as he is “not capable of hiding this much” without support, Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ said Jan. 18.

Öksüz, known as the Gülen movement’s “Imam of the Air Force,” was detained near the Akıncı Air Base, the headquarters of the coup, on the morning of July 16, only to be released on Jan. 18 due to a lack of evidence, after which he went on the run.

The Gülen movement of U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen has been blamed for the coup attempt.

“Adil Öksüz, in fact, is not an individual that has the skills to be able to hide this much. I think he is being hidden by some,” said Bozdağ.

Because “Turkish people are sensitive about those who took part in the coup attempt” and would have denounced him immediately, he must be receiving protection, the minister said.

Bozdağ also said Öksüz was still in Turkey because all border gates were immediately informed about him following his release.

“I think he is in Turkey,” said Bozdağ. 

Meanwhile, a day before, main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu said that after a major raid by police to capture the gunman responsible for the Jan. 1 Reina attack, a similar performance was expected to capture Öksüz. “As our police friends catch the Reina assassin, we are expecting the same for Adil Öksüz. I hope they catch him, too,” Kılıçdaroğlu said Jan. 17, noting that the whereabouts of the most important civilian in the coup attempt were still unknown.