Police officials who carried out graft operation detained in raids

Photo Credit: Today's Zaman

As many as 100 high-ranking members of the police force were detained in a large-scale operation which began late Monday night/early Tuesday morning in over 20 provinces as part of the government's attempt to contain an embarrassing graft scandal which has implicated several ministers and dozens of pro-government businessmen.
The operation has been described as unlawful, as the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) and the Code on Criminal Procedure (CMK) prevent police from conducting raids on venues before dawn.

The operation, coordinated by İstanbul Deputy Chief Public Prosecutor Orhan Kapıcı, is mainly targeting police officers who carried out the major graft operation of Dec. 17 and 25, 2013, as well as officers who carried out the Balyoz (Sledgehammer), Ergenekon and Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) operations.

According to initial reports, 40 officers were detained by counterterrorism departments and 15 others by organized crime units. Later on Tuesday, more than 30 suspects were also detained in widening operation. With the detention of former İstanbul Police Department Intelligence Bureau Chief Ali Fuat Yılmazer, the number of detained suspects has reached to 100. Prosecutors ordered the arrest of at least 115 suspects.

Read full article at Todays Zaman: Police officials who carried out graft operation detained in raids