The Organized Crime Bureau of the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office filed three separate public cases against six suspects as part of an investigation into Arif Ahmet Denizolgun's death on September 7, 2016.
In light of new evidence, a case was filed against Denizolgun's arrested private physician, N.D., on charges of false testimony. Separate public cases were initiated against Forensic Medicine Institute officials İ.Ç., Ç.K. and S.Ç. for document forgery, and against A.G.D.K. and H.T.K. for destroying evidence of a crime.
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding Denizolgun's death is also continuing on multiple fronts. His death was recorded as a "natural death due to cerebral hemorrhage" in a Forensic Medicine Institute report dated October 17, 2016.
Background to the investigation
In a statement issued on August 18, the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office said there were doubts and complaints concerning the death of Denizolgun, who died in September 2016, and the autopsy procedures. The statement said a re-examination had been ordered under the relevant provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure to determine the actual cause of death.
Following the decision, the deputy chief prosecutor, a public prosecutor, Istanbul Forensic Medicine Institute specialists and crime-scene investigation teams went to Denizolgun's grave on August 19. The officials exhumed parts of the body and took them to the Forensic Medicine Institute for examination.
After the examination, the samples taken from the grave were reinterred on August 20. The information and documents obtained during the preliminary examination of the exhumed samples were sent to the First Specialized Board of the Forensic Medicine Institute for a report to be prepared.
Homicide investigation continues
In a statement issued on August 26, the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office said the autopsy had determined that Denizolgun's death was suspicious. It also announced that the investigation into the suspects, including Alihan Kuriş, on charges of homicide was continuing.
As part of the investigation, proceedings were previously initiated against N.D., who had given a statement as a witness, on charges of false testimony. N.D. was taken into custody and arrested.
The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office also said it had launched an ex officio investigation into people who published false and manipulative content online concerning the investigation into Denizolgun's death.
