Former head of Turkey’s top science body released

ANKARA - Anadolu Agency

HÜRRİYET Photo

The former head of Turkey’s top science body and two of its employees were released late April 14 following their detainment after an alleged “impeachment” for hiring an employee with fake diploma.

An Ankara public prosecutor released Prof. Dr. Yücel Altunbaşak, the former head of the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK), his former chief of staff, identified as Osman K., and a manager of a TÜBİTAK institute, identified as Eren Y., while requesting judicial control for Altunbaşak and the former chief of staff, Osman K.

However, a magistrate ruled for the dismissal of the judicial control request.

Altunbaşak was detained in Ankara on April 14, four days after he resigned from his post at the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK), along with his two former staff.

Before his time at TÜBİTAK, Altunbaşak was a prominent name internationally in the academy and the industry. He worked in Silicon Valley and lectured at institutions such as Stanford, the Georgia Institute of Technology and San Jose State University.

Hasan Palaz, Altunbaşak’s deputy at TÜBİTAK, was arrested in Ankara last week for hiring an employee who presented a fake diploma.

In January, 28 employees of TÜBİTAK and Turkey’s Telecommunications Directorate (TİB) were detained for wiretapping the encrypted phones of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, Constitutional Court President Haşim Kılıç and Chief of General Staff Necdet Özel.

In recent years, TÜBİTAK had also been criticized for its reports on controversial legal cases.