Another Arrest In The Susurluk Case

[kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu]

From: Arm The Spirit <ats at locust.etext.org>

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 - October 11, 1997

     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
receiving 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 -
nonetheless 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.

(Source: Press Agency Ozgurluk, http://www.ozgurluk.org)