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Top prosecutor: MİT probe targets officials who overstepped authority
Seçen, who over the weekend dismissed a prosecutor who attempted to interrogate National Intelligence Organization (MİT) Undersecretary Hakan Fidan and four other MİT officials, issued a statement on Monday in response to criticism in the Turkish media that the investigation into alleged links between MİT and the terrorist Kurdish Communities Union (KCK) undermines counterterrorism efforts by both MİT and the government.
“Claims that well-intentioned attempts carried out to maintain peace and security in our country are being investigated by our Deputy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office do not reflect the truth. This investigation was launched after acquiring evidence during an ongoing investigation into the KCK terrorist organization that raised suspicions that some state officials acted beyond the scope of the authority given to them by the executive body [government] and helped the terrorist organization in their activities, and only targets the activities of these officials,” the statement said.
Seçen on Saturday removed İstanbul Specially Authorized Prosecutor Sadrettin Sarıkaya from the KCK case with the knowledge and approval of İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Turan Çolakkadı. Çolakkadı explained the reasons behind Sarıkaya's removal in remarks to the Sabah daily on Sunday, saying the prosecutor was taken off the case because he violated the confidentiality of the investigation and hid information from his superiors.
“Both Fikret Seçen and I learned about the developments from the press,” said Çolakkadı, adding that such behavior by Sarıkaya runs contrary to procedures that must be followed by all prosecutors and deputy chief prosecutors. At the heart of the current investigation is suspected collaboration between the KCK and MİT officials, who infiltrated the KCK to gather intelligence about the activities of the organization but allegedly ended up involved in illegal acts and attacks by the KCK.
Reports in the media claim that, according to documents in the case file, the KCK was actually founded under MİT oversight. It has also been alleged that orders for some of the KCK's attacks were given from sources inside MİT.
Regarding these claims, Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ made a statement on Sunday and said it is impossible for intelligence agents to infiltrate the terrorist organization without becoming involved in crime.
Speaking to Kanal 7 television, Bozdağ said: “When you look at the infiltration of MİT officials into the terrorist organization, there is no possibility of infiltrating it without getting involved in crime. When you join the ranks of the terrorist organization, you need to do something to win the confidence of its real members. The important thing here is that your actions should not result in consequences harmful to the country. Our police and soldiers should not be targeted by attacks; there should be no suicide attacks. Such things had not taken place before, and it is out of the question for [MİT agents] to be involved in such crimes."
In addition, a meeting MİT officials held in Oslo with representatives of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) last year is also under investigation. The meeting came to light last year through recordings posted on the Internet.
Two new prosecutors were assigned to the case after Sarıkaya was removed. Sarıkaya was overseeing the probe into the KCK with Bilal Bayraktar. With two new prosecutors assigned to replace Sarıkaya, three prosecutors are now involved in the case.
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