Turkey: Another Arrest in Susurluk Case

Fri Oct 10 19:29:34 BST 1997

   11 October,1997, Copyright © Turkish Daily News

                       Another Arrest in Susurluk Case

     * Ali Fevzi Bir, the former partner murdered Casino King Omer Lutfu
       Topal and one of the key persons of the Susurluk case was
       arrested. During his interrogation, Bir emphasized the importance
       of Topal.

     _________________________________________________________________

    By Hakan Aslaneli / Turkish Daily News

   Istanbul - The notorious underworld father Ali Fevzi Bir, who was
   being sought after the Susurluk accident which occurred after his
   business partner Omer Lutfu Topal was killed, has been put in prison.
   Bir, alias "Alico", is claimed to be a drug dealer and was brought to
   the State Security Court charged with being a partner of Topal in
   illegal business and attempted crimes. After being interrogated by the
   public prosecutors Aykut Cengiz Engin and Ahmet Gurses at the State
   Security Court, Bir was taken to the Sariyer courthouse. He was sent
   to Metris prison after reciving another charge at the Sariyer
   courthouse for having his name involved in the murder of his old
   partner Topal.

   After the special team police who were defendants in the Susurluk case
   were freed, sending Ali Fevzi Bir to prison -- reports vary as to
   whether he was arrested or surrendered -- nonethless seems likely to
   follow the suspicious pattern of the previous defendants.

   The pattern is this: persons claimed to have committed almost all
   types of crimes including being part of the Susurluk gang, having made
   unfair profits, and dealing drugs are seen to flee first, then
   surrender and go to court --then they are found innocent by the court.
   A majority think Bir will also prove to be one of these persons. It
   was learned that Bir, who was interrogated for one week at the
   Istanbul police department after he was arrested, refused all the
   charges against him and stated he had done his job within the law.
   Five to nine years of imprisonment is being sought for Bir on the
   grounds that he has attempted to commit crimes. Yet it is presumed he
   will probably be released within three to five months.

-- 
Press Agency Ozgurluk
The Struggle for justice, democracy and human rights in Turkey and Kurdistan
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