Prosecutor seeks prison for ex-MİT official after PM permits probe

In Turkey, prosecutors have to obtain special permission from the prime minister to investigate former and currently serving MİT officials.

In June, the İstanbul Chief Prosecutor's Office assigned a prosecutor to investigate former MİT official Fuat B. as well as 71 suspects, who face accusations of membership in a criminal organization. The prosecutor then asked Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to allow him to investigate the former MİT official. Contrary to earlier practices, the prime minister gave the prosecutor permission to investigate the suspects, and the prosecutor went ahead with his investigation.

The prosecutor recently completed an indictment against the suspects, accusing them of membership in a criminal organization, aiding and abetting a criminal organization and abuse of power. In the indictment, the prosecutor demanded up to seven-and-a-half years in prison for Fuat B. The indictment has been sent to the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office for review.

Earlier this year, prosecutors moved to interrogate MİT head Hakan Fidan and four other MİT officials as part of an investigation into the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK). The prosecutors sought permission from the prime minister for the interrogation, but Erdoğan turned them down.

The KCK is a terrorist organization that Turkish prosecutors say controls the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and other affiliated groups.