Prosecutor seeks up to 4 years for doctor in ex-minister Denizolgun death case

Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has prepared an indictment seeking up to four years in prison for Dr. Nurettin Demirkol on charges of "false testimony" related to the death of former Transport Minister Arif Ahmet Denizolgun. Denizolgun was found dead at his Beykoz farm on September 7, 2016, with an investigation initially launched for "intentional killing."

The indictment alleges Demirkol, who was present at the farm that day, gave contradictory statements. He told prosecutors he was not Denizolgun's private doctor, did not see blood on the body, and did not treat the death as suspicious. However, police records and the 155 emergency call log show Demirkol identified himself as the family doctor and reported a suspicious death when calling authorities.

“The suspect's defenses in his statement during the investigation phase are abstract and aimed at escaping the crime, therefore they were not found credible.”

Forensic evidence further contradicts Demirkol's account. While he claimed he saw no blood on the victim's face, the autopsy report noted blood flowing from the mouth, and the forensic pathologist confirmed the facial area was bloody. Additionally, HTS (Base Station) records analyzed by prosecutors indicate Demirkol was not at his claimed location in Kısıklı at the time of the incident.

The indictment also disputes Demirkol's claim that only Murat Bayrak and a foreign national were present at the farm. Police reports, HTS data, and witness statements place Hilmi Tuna Kuriş and Alihan Kuriş at the scene. A witness also reported seeing a lawyer alongside Demirkol, and call records show consecutive communication between Demirkol and Hilmi Tuna Kuriş prior to the event.