Former Minister Ağar turns himself in jail

AYDIN - Doğan News Agency

Former Interior and Justice Minister and police chief Ağar speaks to local citizens and press members before he surrenders yesterday in Aydın.

Former Interior and Justice Minister and police chief, Mehmet Ağar, who was convicted in the “Susurluk scandal” case of 1996, turned himself in yesterday in the western province of Aydın.

Ağar was convicted for offenses during his term as chief of police, from 1993 to 1995, before he was elected to Parliament for the now-defunct True Path Party (DYP).

Before he entered the Yenipazar K1-Type Closed Prison in Aydın, Ağar said he had not committed any offenses against anybody.

“My only issue is the future of Turkey. Living together in peace and in fraternity, I did not have any other aims. I will be in peace during my time here, because here is the soil of our country. I haven’t engaged in any kind of behavior that could worry either my nation or my supporters,” he said.

The Justice Ministry selected the Yenipazar prison in the western province of Aydın for Ağar, as it is a high-security facility and is close to the Aegean resort town of Bodrum, where Ağar’s family lives. The 60-person capacity prison is equipped with a conference room, as well as a library.

Mehmet Ağar’s wife Emel Ağar is reported to be renting an apartment in the nearby town. Ağar is expected to serve three years and nine months.