Earthquake at Istanbul police headquarter

[ozgurluk at xs4all.nl]

16 December, 1998

Earthquake at Istanbul police headquarters 

    Istanbul Narcotics Bureau Chief Ferruh Tankus, known as the most
    successful police officer of recent times, was discharged from his
    position Tuesday. Following the announcement, Tankus made certain
    statements that fell like a bomb on the police headquarters. 



Istanbul - Turkish Daily News 

Istanbul Narcotics Bureau Chief Ferruh Tankus, who played the lead role
in the capture of tons of narcotics, was appointed Beyoglu district
police chief through a sudden decision yesterday, after which he was
discharged from his position. Tankus made some shocking statements
yesterday morning following the initial decision of demotion. During a
press conference at Istanbul Police Headquarters, Tankus said that he had
been discharged from his position as a result of pressure from drug
smugglers. Tankus stated that Sultan Dogan, the owner of the 375
kilograms of heroin that were captured in Mersin, had bribed police
officers with four million dollars to have him transferred to another
position. Tankus accused the deputy Istanbul Police Chief Ercument
Ozbeyli, saying that Sultan Dogan and his partner, drug smuggler Yasin
Umo, had used his official car for their own affairs. Tankus stated that
Police Chief Necati Bilican had honored the brother of a drugs smuggler
by giving him a plaque during a recent police ball, and that he had been
sold for four million dollars. Noting that during his one-year long
tenure, five tons of narcotics were captured in Istanbul, Tankus said
that a successful police officer like himself did not deserve thhis
behavior. The accusation of one police officer by others was a "first" in
the history of the Turkish police force. After this event, deep silent
covered police headquarters. The head of the Istanbul police force, Hasan
Ozdemir, had an urgent meeting with the governor. Following Tankus's
latest statements, an investigation was opened at police headquarters. 

The governor's statement 

Istanbul Governor Erol Cakir has said that Tankus had connections with
criminal gangs and that he could provide documentation of this. He
declined to answer when asked why, if he had this kind of documentation,
he demoted Tankus rather than firing him. Istanbul Police Chief Ozdemir
at a press conference with the governor, seemed tense. When Ozdemir
readied himself to answer the questions, the governor would not allow him
to talk. The remarkable behavior of the two officials was attributed to
their being extremely tense. 

Tankus removed from post 

Following the investigation, Ferruh Tankus was removed from his position
in the police administration later in the day on Tuesday. The decision to
discharge Tankus was based on the Eighth Article of the Disciplinary
Regulations of the police administration. This decision was conveyed to
Tankus at 16:00, after which Tankus handed his police identity card and
weapon to Istanbul Police Chief Deputy Director Hayriye Aktas. 
-- 
Press Agency Ozgurluk
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