INFORMER SAYS HE TRIED TO PREVENT DINK MURDER
Turkish Daily News
July 8 2008
CoÅ~_kun Ä°gci, a gendarmerie informer and brother-in-law of
Yasin Hayal, the suspected inciter of the murder of prominent
Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, was cross-examined for the
first time yesterday in the sixth trial session at Istanbul’s 14th
Court for Serious Crimes in BeÅ~_iktaÅ~_ district and said he had
informed officials about his relative’s plans.
The trial open to media and spectators by an interlocutory decision
at the beginning of the trial, as the suspected murderer Ogun Samast
turned 18. Ä°gci, in his testimony at the court, said he had tried
to stop Hayal, but also that he informed two gendarmerie soldiers
about his brother-in-law’s murder plan when he understood that he
would not be able to prevent him. The soldiers said, however, that
they did not think Hayal was a person who could do something like
that, Ä°gci said, adding that the solders told Ä°gci that they were
following Hayal and would solve the issue. "I did not see Hayal after
mid-October 2006. When I saw Dink’s murder on TV I was shocked," he
said. The soldiers confirmed Ä°gci’s testimony in a separate trial
in which they were tried for neglecting their duty in the Dink murder.
Meanwhile, Tuncel objected to a report about him saying that his
relation with the police as an informer ended in 2006. He said it was
impossible for him to accept the indictment of the case. "I am in jail
for one-and-a-half years. My psychological condition is disrupted. The
disclosure of the truth will benefit me the most. You accept it or not;
I represent someone here," he said.
But upon further questioning by lawyers, Tuncel conceded he was an
informer. Kezban Hatemi, a lawyer for Dink’s family, said the family
demands that the court listen to some witnesses that Tuncel also
demanded the court hear.
No connection with BBP
Hakkı Bahadır Cihan, the son of YaÅ~_ar Cihan, the head of the Grand
Unity Party’s, or BBP, Trabzon branch, and also among the leaders of
the youth branch of the party, Alperen Ocakları, testified in court
as well. Cihan rejected any connection between Hayal and Erhan Tuncel,
a suspected inciter and the alleged "Big Brother" behind the murder,
with the party. Cihan said he did not have any information that Hayal
was running the cafe of the party building. He also said they tried
to keep Tuncel away from Ocakları, as many disliked his attitude
and that he was frequently saying he was a police informer.
Hayal, on the other hand, at the beginning of the court session said
he saluted Muhsin Yazıcıoglu, the head of the BBP. "This caravan
will go on to walk till we come to power," Hayal said. He chanted
slogans in favor of Yazıcıoglu in the lunch break as well, from
the window of the lockup in the court building.
Many people, including Cem Ozdemir, a member of the European Parliament
for Alliance 90’/The Greens, Murvet Ozturk, a Turkish origins deputy
of German Greens in Hesse, Turkish deputies and foreign and local
journalists watched the case as well.
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