Özdemir had been detained earlier in the investigation but was released pending trial. The prosecutor filed an appeal of the release ruling. The court hearing the appeal ruled for Özdemir’s re-arrest. The decision was relayed to Özdemir’s lawyers on Sunday night. The police chief, who is currently hospitalized at the İbn-i Sina Hospital for treatment for an infection, plans to appeal, reports said.
Özdemir is being accused of organized fraud in tenders during the time when he served as the chief of the Kayseri Police Department. He had earlier testified for five hours to prosecutors and a judge in the investigation. Before checking in to the hospital, Özdemir oversaw an important personnel reshuffling in the police department. He removed Deputy Police Chief Muharrem Durmuz, in charge of the intelligence department, and Intelligence Department Deputy Director Zeki Güven and Raşit Yüksel, a senior aide to the police chief. The three officers were assigned to new positions. It was not clear what the purpose behind this reshuffle was.
