Defense Ministry reopens file for mysterious death of ASELSAN engineers

ISTANBUL

The Turkish Defense Ministry has reopened the file regarding the mysterious death of engineers working at Turkey’s leading defense system producer Aselsan, daily Sabah reported on Feb. 27.

Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli said he instructed the relevant authorities to inspect all files in detail.

“We have a strong team to carry out this comprehensive investigation into the death of the engineers. We have reopened this file because we have still questions regarding the incident,” Canikli was quoted in daily Sabah.

Previously, the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office reviewed the file regarding the unexpected death of five engineers, who were working on important national projects between 2006 and 2013 in Aselsan, after the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office suspected the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) could be involved in the incident.

Hüseyin Başbilen was found dead in his car in 2006 with his throat and wrist cut, among the engineers who had been found dead in suspicious circumstances.

On Jan. 17, 2007 it was reported that engineer Ali Ünal was killed by a bullet in the head.

Nine days after Ünal’s death, Evrim Yançeken died after falling from the sixth floor of the building in which he was living.

Following those three deaths, Burhanettin Volkan committed suicide by shooting himself on Oct. 9, 2007 while he was completing his military service.

In 2013, Hakan Öksüz died in a car accident. Questions were raised over his death, as none of his belongings—including his identity cards, his wallet and his cell phone—could be found at the scene of the accident. 

It has been claimed that the engineers, who were all working on important projects, were murdered.