A police officer named Hüseyin Tayfun Üçgül, who worked in the narcotics division in the southwestern Muğla province, had been involved in an incident back in June where he broke the leg of a lawyer during a dispute, claiming that the lawyer had cut him off in traffic.
The incident took place on the İzmir-İstanbul highway, and what caught public attention was the fact that Üçgül was driving a luxury Maserati registered under his spouse’s name. This raised questions about how a police officer could afford such an extravagant vehicle.
In response to a lawsuit filed by lawyer Fatih Uzun, prosecutors sought a prison sentence ranging from 6 to 10 years for Üçgül on charges of “public insult” and “intentional injury.”
The Ministry of Interior also took action by launching an administrative investigation into Üçgül’s conduct, assigning an inspector to the case. As a result, Üçgül was reassigned to a different location and suspended from duty.
During this process, reports circulated suggesting that Üçgül not only owned a luxury car but also several lavish villas. Speculations arose in some news articles that Muğla, a city on Turkey’s west coast, was on the route of drug trafficking and other illegal trades, and that Üçgül might have been involved in these activities.
Amidst all this controversy, the 39-year-old officer was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head inside a car in Muğla. Initial investigations indicate that the gun was in close contact with Üçgül’s head, suggesting the possibility of suicide, according to reports in the media.
Parliamentary question
In response to the incident, Ali Bozan, a Green Left Party MP, submitted a parliamentary question to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, demanding transparency from the authorities.
Bozan called for the disclosure of findings regarding the cause of Üçgül’s death, as well as an explanation of the reported wealth and its acquisition dates that had been mentioned in the news articles.
Additionally, Bozan inquired if there had been any noticeable increase in the assets of other police officers working in the same department.
He also sought clarification on any alleged connections between Üçgül’s wealth and criminal organizations, as well as the possibility of other police officers being involved in organized networks.
Furthermore, Bozan questioned whether there were any statements in the personnel records of Üçgül’s superiors that shed light on these suspicions. (VK)
Source:Bianet
