Hayyam Garipoğlu Arrested At Airport Over Karabulut Murder

Famous businessman Hayyam Garipoğlu, the uncle of convicted murderer Cem Garipoğlu, was arrested at İstanbul Atatürk Airport on Wednesday for aiding in his nephew's escape from the police.

The elder Garipoğlu was sentenced to three years in prison for aiding and abetting his nephew while the latter was on the run for more than six months after murdering his girlfriend Münevver Karabulut in March of 2009. An arrest warrant was issued against Hayyam Garipoğlu in September 2012, but he was not in Turkey. He was arrested upon his return to the country from London on Wednesday and taken to an İstanbul courthouse before being referred to a prison.

Cem Garipoğlu was sentenced to 24 years in prison on the charge of premeditated murder. The trial took place six months after the crime since police were not able to locate the suspect for some time. On Oct. 10 of this year, media outlets reported that the younger Garipoğlu had committed suicide in İstanbul's Silivri Prison, where he was incarcerated.

Karabulut's body was found in a dumpster, decapitated and shoved inside a guitar case. Cem Garipoğlu was captured by police in September 2009, 197 days after the murder.

The younger Garipoğlu was believed to be hiding abroad after his girlfriend's murder, with speculations that he was in Russia or Armenia. However, he surrendered in İstanbul, suggesting that he might have never left the country.

(Cihan/Today's Zaman)