04.04.2026 12:50
Following the words of Justice Minister Akın Gürlek, "We will collectively break the perception that justice is on the side of the strong," action was taken in Gaziantep. In an operation against bribery and drugs identified at the courthouse, 16 suspects were detained, including prosecutors, lawyers, police officers, clerks, and courthouse staff. It was reported that 2 clerks were arrested, while the procedures for the other suspects are ongoing.
The Gaziantep Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has launched a large-scale investigation into individuals identified as being involved in 'bribery' and 'drug' offenses at the Gaziantep Courthouse. As part of the investigation, court clerk Halil İbrahim Uğurlu was placed under technical and physical surveillance. As a result of the wiretaps and examinations conducted under Article 135 of the Criminal Procedure Code, it was revealed that not only one person but also a wide network from both inside and outside the courthouse was involved in this scheme.
16 PEOPLE, INCLUDING A PROSECUTOR, CLERK, LAWYER, AND POLICE, WERE ARRESTED
Following the investigation into the suspects, an operation was launched with the support of the Provincial Security Directorate teams. As a result of the operation carried out upon the prosecutor's instruction, a total of 16 people were detained, including 1 public prosecutor, 2 lawyers, 2 court clerks, 5 courthouse personnel, and 6 civilian citizens. Legal actions were initiated against the arrested suspects on charges of drug trafficking, bribery, influence peddling, and violation of the confidentiality of the investigation.
WHATSAPP MESSAGES REVEALED EVERYTHING
Examinations of the suspects' phones revealed numerous messages containing criminal evidence. It was particularly noted that courthouse personnel were accused of abusing their duties to leak information, interfering with case processes, and turning these processes into a matter of personal interest. As part of the investigation, various measures such as arrest, judicial control, and notifications to the Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSK) were applied to some individuals.
2 CLERKS WERE ARRESTED, THE INVESTIGATION WAS DEEPENED
After the completion of procedures and health checks at the police station, the suspects, court clerks Halil İbrahim Uğurlu and Murat Çetinkaya, were arrested by the duty magistrate and handed over to prison. While legal proceedings against the other suspects are ongoing, it was stated that necessary notifications were made to the Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSK) regarding some individuals mentioned in the investigation file, and the investigation was deepened.