The third indictment prepared by the prosecutors conducting the Ergenekon investigation was accepted by the İstanbul 13th High Criminal Court last week. The document mentions Kıvrıkoğlu's role in blocking an investigation of Şenel during his term in office.
According to the indictment, the head of the Supervisory Board for the Defense Ministry, Bergütay Varımlı, attempted to launch an investigation into Şenel over claims that the general purchased two luxurious apartments in Ankara's Zirvekent complex with funds allocated to the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) by the state. Varımlı was, however, prevented from launching the investigation by then-Chief of General Staff Gen. Kıvrıkoğlu, who reportedly told Varımlı that duty is sometimes more important than honesty within the TSK. Only one day later, Varımlı was assigned to a different position.
Şenel was interrogated by Ergenekon prosecutors about the claims. The retired general said Varımlı served in the Naval Forces and caused former Naval Forces Commander Adm. İlhami Erdil to be demoted to the rank of private after an investigation.
An investigation by Varımlı against Erdil on suspicion of links to a corruption scandal within the TSK resulted in the loss of Erdil's status as admiral. After the investigation, Varımlı said courage was required to fight against corruption. “The fight against corruption requires courage. I was backed by only [former Chief of General Staff] Gen. Hilmi Özkök. No one else supported my investigation. Even Kıvrıkoğlu did not stand by me,” Varımlı noted.
Kıvrıkoğlu, however, emphasized the importance of honesty and voiced displeasure about claims of corruption within the armed forces on various occasions in the past. During a briefing of the Strategic Research and Study Center (SAREM) in January 2002, the former military chief said: “We need to eradicate corruption. Otherwise, it is not possible for Turkey to survive. The Turkish nation is now more conscious. Many underhanded plans were made behind closed doors in the past. It is not possible to return from wrong deeds.”
