Prosecutor displaced after ‘mistakenly’ summoning CHP leader to testify

ISTANBUL

The prosecutor who “mistakenly” invited main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu to testify as a suspect in an undisclosed investigation has been assigned to the Edirne Prosecutor’s Office until an investigation into him has been completed.

An investigation has been launched into Mehmet Demir after the CHP filed a complaint to the Supreme Board of Prosecutors and Judges (HSYK) on April 30.

Even though the Istanbul Chief Prosecutor’s Office on April 29 issued a written statement – after the invitation was made – saying the document was sent to the CHP headquarters “by mistake,” the move failed to sooth ereactions from both the main opposition and ruling parties.

CHP Deputy Chair Bülent Tezcan said the subpoena sent to the CHP headquarters was in violation of Article 83 of the Constitution, which covers parliamentary immunity.

Kılıçdaroğlu again criticized Demir during a parliamentary speech on May 6, saying he respected prosecutors but not Bilal’s prosecutors, referring to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s son. According to recent reports, the complaint that led to the prosecution of Kılıçdaroğlu on insult charges was filed by Bilal Erdoğan.