17.08.2026 00:10
New details have emerged in the investigation into Gülistan Doku, a university student who disappeared in Tunceli in 2020. In the referral document from the Erzurum Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, an assessment was made regarding the suspects, including former Tunceli Governor Tuncay Sonel, of a 'dark network of relationships' involving the use of public power.
New evaluations in the file have drawn attention in the investigation into the fate of university student Gülistan Doku, who went missing in Tunceli in 2020.
In the referral document prepared by the Erzurum Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was stated that the evidence obtained within the scope of the investigation indicates that the incident is not a simple missing person case.
"A DARK NETWORK OF RELATIONSHIPS USING PUBLIC POWER AS A TOOL" In the referral document of the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the messages and instruction contents between former Tunceli Governor Tuncay Sonel and suspect Gökhan Ertok were also evaluated.
The document stated, "When the message and instruction contents of suspect Tuncay Sonel directed at suspect Gökhan Ertok are examined; it has been evaluated that they established a dark network of relationships that constitutes absolute violation of law and legislation, using public power as a tool."
"BEYOND A SIMPLE MISSING PERSON CASE" It was noted that the information, documents, and other evidence collected within the scope of the investigation have created a strong conviction that the incident occurred within an organized structure.
In the referral document of the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was stated, "All information, findings, documents, and other evidence obtained to date have resulted in the conclusion that the incident is beyond a simple suspicion of a missing person case. In light of all findings, a strong conviction, supported by investigation data and material evidence, has been formed that the incident was committed within an organized structure involving multiple criminal acts."
WHAT HAPPENED? The family of university student Gülistan Doku (21), who was studying in Tunceli and from whom no news was received as of January 5, 2020, went from their hometown Diyarbakır to Tunceli and filed a missing person report with the police on January 6, 2020, but the search efforts yielded no results.
In line with the new information obtained, within the scope of the investigation conducted by the Tunceli Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on charges of "intentional killing," "aiding intentional killing," "sexual assault," "concealing/destroying evidence of a crime," "destroying or corrupting data by unlawfully accessing an information system," "deprivation of liberty," "failure to report a crime," and "harboring a criminal," 19 suspects were detained.
Among the suspects, the then Tunceli Governor Tuncay Sonel, Sonel's son Mustafa Türkay Sonel, former police officer Gökhan Ertok who allegedly deleted data on Doku's SIM card, then Tunceli State Hospital Chief Physician Çağdaş Özdemir who allegedly deleted hospital records, former Tunceli Special Provincial Administration employee Erdoğan Elaldı, Celal Altaş, Nurşen Arıkan, Ferhat Hanedan Güven, Doku's boyfriend Zeinal Abakarov, her mother Cemile Yücer, and her former police officer stepfather Engin Yücer, Şükrü Eroğlu who was Tuncay Sonel's protection officer at the time, and security guard Fatih Özmen were arrested, while Uğurcan A., Savaş G. and Süleyman Ö. who were responsible for Munzur University's security cameras, B.Y. and Y.E. who allegedly deleted hospital records, and businessman O.Y. were released under judicial control with a ban on traveling abroad.
In the investigation, fugitive suspect Umut Altaş, who was sought with a red notice, was taken into custody in the USA.
Within the framework of the investigation conducted by the Erzurum Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding former Tunceli Governor Tuncay Sonel, the then Tunceli Police Chief Yılmaz Delen was called to testify as a witness.
Finally, former Tunceli Governor Tuncay Sonel's wife Handan Sonel and the owner of the IT company were also arrested.