Former judge of Turkey’s biggest graft probe arrested in Istanbul

ISTANBUL – Doğan News Agency

DHA photo

A former judge, who was connected to Turkey’s biggest ever corruption case in December 2013, was arrested Sept. 15 after a second arrest warrant was issued in his name. 

Süleyman Karaçöl, a former judge who was fired from his position for accepting an indictment in the Dec. 17 and Dec. 25, 2013, corruption cases, was arrested in Istanbul on Sept. 15, after being detained a second time with a demand for his arrest.

Karaçöl was detained on Sept. 12 after an initial arrest warrant was issued. At the time, the former judge was transferred from his home in the western province of Kütahya to Istanbul. The court examining the arrest warrant subsequently released Karaçöl.

But following Bakırköy Deputy Chief Public Prosecutor Ömer Faruk Aydıner’s objection, a second arrest warrant was issued for Karaçöl on Sept. 15. 

After he was again brought from Kütahya to Istanbul, Karaçöl was detained and dispatched to court with a demand for his arrest.

The Bakırköy 2nd Court of Serious Crimes moved to arrest of Karaçöl late Sept. 15 on the grounds that there was tangible evidence that he had committed the alleged crimes. 

Karaçöl is charged with being a member of an illegal organization, attempting to overthrow the Turkish Republic and partially or fully hindering the state from performing its duties by means of force and violence.

The Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK), Turkey’s top judicial body, fired prosecutor Muammer Akkaş and Karaçöl in May for participating in the corruption investigation.

The 5th Penal Chamber of the Court of Appeals accepted the indictment against Akkaş and Karaçöl on Aug. 7, while their case will start on Nov. 25.

The December 2013 corruption cases targeted figures close to the government and resulted in lasting enmity between the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government and the movement of Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, as prosecutors close to the movement were said to have launched the probe. Gülenists in the judiciary and police forces have since been purged from their positions.