05.12.2025 20:57
The court clerk U.E., who was arrested in connection with the 12 firearms that went missing from the Istanbul Islands Chief Public Prosecutor's Office's evidence storage, stated in his testimony that he took these weapons due to suicidal thoughts. However, he partially accepted the charges by claiming that he did not gain any material benefit from the loss of the firearms and that he had no knowledge regarding the other missing weapons.
The Istanbul Adalar Chief Public Prosecutor's Office's 'Evidence and Custody Depot' routine inspections revealed that 12 firearms were missing. A letter was sent to inquire whether the firearms were under examination at the Istanbul Regional Police Criminal Laboratory. The examination revealed that three of the missing firearms had been re-entered into the criminal process.
NINE MISSING FIREARMS NOT FOUND It was learned that two of the firearms were obtained from U.E., who was serving as a court clerk in the Custody Transactions Office on October 2, 2023, and that another was seized from the home of another suspect during an investigation into terrorism and organized crime. Court clerk U.E. was detained on November 26 on charges of unlawfully removing firearms under his responsibility from custody. After processing at the police station, the suspect was referred to the courthouse and was arrested by the Duty Peace Criminal Court. A search was conducted at U.E.'s home, where it was determined that he had sold the firearms removed from custody. The nine missing firearms were not found at his residence.
"I TOOK IT TO COMMIT SUICIDE, BUT I DIDN'T HAVE THE COURAGE" In his statement to the prosecutor's office, U.E. said, "I want to benefit from the effective remorse provisions. I am currently serving as a court clerk in the 2nd Office of Forgery and Fraud Crimes of the Istanbul Anadolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. Although I do not remember the exact date, I was assigned as a court clerk at the Adalar Chief Public Prosecutor's Office in March 2023. During my time in office, I was going through a difficult period due to problems with my spouse. At the same time, I had debts amounting to approximately 1.5 million TL. According to the division of labor at the Adalar Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, I was assigned to the Custody Transactions Office. In the autumn of 2023, I secretly took one firearm from the custody office. I do not remember the brand and serial number of the first firearm I took. I came to my residence in Tuzla with the firearm. My intention was to commit suicide with this firearm. However, I did not have the courage that day. I left the firearm at my residence in Tuzla and continued my duties at the Adalar Courthouse the next day. At the end of the day, due to the overwhelming thought of suicide, I took another firearm from custody this time. I went to a wooded area in the Aydınlı region of Tuzla. However, again, I did not have the courage to commit suicide. The reason for taking a second firearm while the first one was still in my possession was that I did not want to stop by home. Since the first firearm was at my residence, I wanted to commit suicide in a place where my spouse was not present," he said.
"MY AIM WAS TO RETURN THEM WITHOUT ANYONE KNOWING" U.E. continued his statement, saying: "As I mentioned earlier, since I could not find the courage to commit suicide, my aim was to take both firearms and return them to the custody at the Adalar Courthouse without anyone knowing. On October 2, 2023, when I went to the Adalar Courthouse in the morning, I was stopped by police officers on patrol. During the search, two firearms were found in a bag I was carrying, and I was taken to the police station for further legal proceedings. A public case was opened against me for possessing unlicensed firearms. I have no information regarding the other firearms that are claimed to be missing."
"I HAVE NOT GAINED ANY MATERIAL BENEFIT" I have not gained any material benefit. I do not know individuals named Serkan K. and Necmettin K. I have no knowledge of how the firearm that should have been in custody was obtained from these individuals. I would also like to state that during my time at the Adalar Courthouse, no one else was aware of my actions in removing the firearms from custody. I carried out the entire act alone. I partially accept the accusation against me. Additionally, I deleted messages related to illegal gambling from the WhatsApp application on my phone, which was seized by law enforcement. There is no correspondence regarding the fate of the missing firearms.