06.08.2026 14:10
In the Gülistan Doku investigation, two divers who participated in the search operations at Uzunçayır Dam Lake were arrested on charges of 'evidence tampering'.
In the Gülistan Doku investigation, two divers who participated in the search operations at Uzunçayır Dam Lake were arrested on charges of 'concealing evidence'.
TWO DIVERS INVOLVED IN THE SEARCH OPERATION WITH THE FORMER GOVERNOR HAVE BEEN ARRESTED
Within the framework of the investigation conducted by the Erzurum Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, two underwater divers, who stated that they found notes and scissors during the search operations at Uzunçayır Dam, were arrested on charges of "concealing evidence". Tuncay Sonel, the then Governor of Tunceli who is currently detained, had also participated in the said search operations.
It is reported that these arrests are among the 19 suspects against whom proceedings were carried out at the Erzurum Courthouse in the fourth wave of operations in the Gülistan Doku case. According to the records in the file, both divers were serving at the Elazığ Provincial Police Department.
IN THE LAST OPERATION, PROCEEDINGS WERE CARRIED OUT AGAINST 19 PEOPLE, INCLUDING A POLICE CHIEF
In the last operation carried out, proceedings were initiated against a total of 19 suspects, including 1 police chief, 1 police superintendent, 1 chief inspector, 1 inspector, 1 chief police officer, 10 police officers, 1 computer operator, and 3 retired police officers. As of July 29, 2026, following the judicial proceedings against the suspects who were brought to the Erzurum Courthouse in groups, 13 of the 19 suspects were arrested, 5 individuals were released under judicial control, and 1 individual was released after being questioned by the prosecutor's office.
INVESTIGATION INTO THE MANNER OF DISCOVERY OF THE EVIDENCE
The divers in question had reached pieces of paper and scissors, considered to be a prescription and a petition belonging to Gülistan Doku, during the searches in the dam lake on January 8 and 10, 2020. According to the expert report included in the Gülistan Doku file, it was stated that it is physically impossible for the pieces of paper to have been preserved at a depth of approximately 14 meters in the dam for a long time and not to have been swept away by the water. In the process leading to the arrest of the two divers, an investigation was initiated based on the findings regarding the manner and timing of the discovery of the said materials.