15.04.2026 10:35
New details have emerged in the Gülistan Doku investigation. In the process that began with an anonymous note, PTS records, deleted messages, and missing camera footage drew attention. The claim that Tuncay Sonel, the then-governor of Tunceli, did not hand over a SIM card he received came to the fore. While a grave-like cavity was detected in the area described by a secret witness, it was assessed that a person had been buried and then removed. As murder suspicions strengthened, 13 suspects were taken into custody.
Striking details have emerged in the years-long investigation into the disappearance of Munzur University student Gülistan Doku. The first significant development in the investigation conducted by the Tunceli Republic Chief Public Prosecutor's Office was an anonymous note typed on a typewriter and left in front of the family's lawyer's office in 2022.
ANONYMOUS NOTE CHANGED THE COURSE OF THE INVESTIGATION
The note alleged that Gülistan Doku had a relationship with Mustafa Türkay Sonel, the son of then Tunceli Governor Tuncay Sonel. Based on this claim, the prosecutor's office began examining the License Plate Recognition System (LPRS) records of the vehicle used by Mustafa Türkay Sonel.
The examination revealed that Sonel, together with his friend Umut Altaş, passed through remote, mountainous, and desolate areas far from social life zones during night hours.
DELETED MESSAGES AND MISSING CAMERA FOOTAGE
Within the scope of the investigation, it was determined that Gülistan Doku's boyfriend, Zeinal Abakarov, had deleted some correspondences. It was also assessed that his social media posts gave the impression that he knew something had happened to Doku.
Furthermore, it was established that camera footage was either never obtained or was incomplete, and attempts were made to complicate the case file.
NOTABLE SIM CARD DETAIL
It was learned that because Gülistan Doku's phone was missing, her mother had a SIM card reissued in her own name, thinking "someone might reach out." However, it emerged that this SIM card was taken by the then Governor, Tuncay Sonel.
It is alleged that Sonel, who said "I will hand it over to the prosecutor's office," did not deliver the SIM card and that access was gained to Gülistan Doku's accounts and interference occurred.
It was also reflected in HTS records that Governor Sonel assigned some public officials around the Doku family, and that Umut Altaş, a close friend of Mustafa Türkay Sonel, called Gülistan's sister, Aygül Doku, months after the incident.
SECRET WITNESS 'FEBRUARY' EMERGED
Another development that changed the course of the investigation was the testimony of a secret witness with the code name "February" who contacted JASAT. The witness alleged that Gülistan Doku was taken from near the bridge on the day of the incident, killed, and that her body was moved multiple times to prevent its discovery.
CLAIM OF BEING BURIED AND THEN EXHUMED
Underground scans in the area described by the secret witness detected a cavity resembling a grave. Examinations suggested that a person was buried in this area and exhumed 1-2 years later, and that a backpack and a weapon were also buried and later removed along with the body.
Based on these findings, search and excavation works were carried out using underground imaging devices at different points.
700 HOURS OF MOBESE FOOTAGE EXAMINED
JASAT teams analyzed the day of the incident anew by examining 700 hours of MOBESE footage second by second. The investigation was deepened based on HTS records, narrowed base station studies, and technical reports.
13 SUSPECTS DETAINED
Following the collection of evidence, 13 people were detained in an operation. Those detained included Gülistan Doku's boyfriend Zeinal Abakarov, her mother Cemile Yücer, stepfather Engin Yücer, Mustafa Türkay Sonel, his friend Uğurcan Açıkgöz, Governor Sonel's bodyguard Şükrü Eroğlu, former police officer Gökhan Ertok, Ferhat Güven, Erdoğan Elaldı, university camera supervisors Savaş Gültürk and Süleyman Önal, and Celal Altaş and Nurşen Arıkan.
Work has begun to issue a red notice for Umut Altaş, who was determined to be in the USA.
"WHY DID YOU GET THE SIM CARD?"
Songül Acar, an employee of the Provincial Directorate of Social Services who testified within the scope of the investigation, described the SIM card process following Gülistan Doku's disappearance. Acar stated that Doku's sister told her that when the SIM card was being inserted into the phone, the Governor summoned the family and said he would take the card and deliver it to the prosecutor's office.
However, it is alleged that the card was not delivered to the prosecutor's office.
FAMILY: "OUR TRUST IN JUSTICE HAS REBLOOMED"
Gülistan Doku's sister, Aygül Doku, stated that with the deepening of the investigation, their trust in justice has increased. Doku expressed that the Minister of Justice is closely monitoring the process and gave the instruction, "Solve this case no matter who the investigation reaches."
CLEAR MESSAGE FROM MINISTER GÜRLEK
Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek, in a statement regarding the investigation, stated that a significant step had been taken, saying, "We will mobilize all the means of the law until there are no unsolved cases left."
Gürlek also emphasized the development of the justice system, stating that the service quality of courthouses has increased significantly compared to the past.
Source: Sabah