Four detained in probe of ex-MIT officer Kozinoğlu's 2011 death

Turkish prosecutors have detained four suspects in the reopened investigation into the 2011 death of former MIT officer Kaşif Kozinoğlu at Silivri Prison. Those taken into custody include Kozinoğlu's former cellmates, retired Naval Lieutenant Commander Hasan Ataman Yıldırım and retired Gendarmerie Colonel Hasan Atilla Uğur, as well as former Silivri Chief Prosecutor Ali İşgören and former Prison Prosecutor Necip Doğan. Both former prosecutors were previously dismissed over FETÖ links.

Simultaneous operations in Istanbul and Ankara on September 17 led to the arrest of Yıldırım, İşgören, and Doğan. Uğur, who was located in Northern Cyprus, was detained upon arrival at an Istanbul airport on September 18 and transferred to the Maslak Gendarmerie Command.

“We are determined not to leave any suspicious death unresolved regardless of how many years pass.”

A forensic decision to exhume Kozinoğlu's body was made recently to test whether he was administered different medication in prison. The original investigation had resulted in a non-prosecution decision, but the case was reopened following the exhumation order.

Justice Minister Akın Gürlek stated the government is determined not to leave any suspicious death unresolved regardless of time passed. Prosecutors have requested house arrest for Uğur and Yıldırım citing age and health, while seeking pre-trial detention for İşgören and Doğan on charges of intentional killing.