According to a news story published in the Star daily yesterday, public prosecutors conducting the Ergenekon investigation are now focusing on money transfers recorded in gendarmerie archives under the names "9010," "830" and "the News Acquisition Fund."
Sources close to the prosecution say former Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Özkök, who testified to the prosecutors as a witness, was asked what payment category 830 was.
According to the paper's report, Özkök replied: “The Gendarmerie General Command budget is separate. I do not know the details of their expenditures.”
The prosecution has reason to believe that some of the gendarmerie's money was used to fund the Republican Work Group (CÇG), a formation allegedly created by generals looking to overthrow the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government in the early 2000s. The activities of the group were funded in the three categories, according to the prosecution. However, as the CÇG does not exist on paper and prosecutors are not allowed to review General Staff archives, the investigation into the money transfers has not gone very far.
The prosecution claims in the second indictment prepared for the case that Eruygur, as the head of the Gendarmerie General Command, has “abused the power and authority granted to him by the state to serve the purpose and targets of the Ergenekon organization.”
The money transfers are also mentioned in reports kept by the CÇG, seized by the police during raids into suspected members' homes and offices.
