19.08.2024 09:10
Senior Colonel Ergün Cebeci, who made a name for himself by returning the bribe he received to the Saudi prince, has been retired. Cebeci, who expressed his great surprise at this decision, stated, "Once again, we see that merit is not effective in such decisions. I was retired without any reason given. I completed my 39-year military career in a bitter way. I guess this is how they appreciated it."
Senior Colonel Ergün Cebeci, Istanbul Gendarmerie Provincial Regiment Deputy Commander, who had a successful career with successful operations both domestically and internationally, was retired at the age of 54 while waiting for the rank of Brigadier General.
HE WAS NOT EXPECTING THIS DECISION
Senior Colonel Cebeci, who is married and has three children, had participated in many operations, from the mountains of Tunceli to the evacuation of Turkish citizens in the Ukraine-Russia War. He was serving as the Deputy Commander of Istanbul Gendarmerie Regiment. Cebeci, who was expecting to be promoted to Brigadier General, said he was shocked by the retirement decision.
DISTRIBUTED ENVELOPES FULL OF DOLLARS
It was revealed that on July 27, 2007, Saudi Arabian Prince Mohamed Bin Suud Al-Faisal Al Suud, who was on vacation in the district of Bodrum in the province of Muğla, distributed envelopes containing 5,000 dollars each as tips to the hotel staff and security guards.
HE RETURNED THE PRINCE'S TIP
In the incident, the envelope, which was not even opened when it was understood that there was money inside, was returned to the Prince by Major Ergün Cebeci with red and white roses. The Prince, who distributed tips of five thousand dollars to 30 hotel staff members, was a little upset when he received the envelope with the flowers. The commander who presented the flowers and the envelope said, "As Turkish military, we are responsible for the security of anyone who comes for vacation or visits our country. You are our guest and we have fulfilled our duty for your safety. We always welcome you to our country. Please do not misunderstand our refusal of your gesture, it is not expected for a Turkish military or any security officer to be in such a situation. The envelope was taken by our officers thinking it was an invitation envelope and out of courtesy, we want you to know this," he said.
"I WANTED TO CONTINUE SERVING MY COUNTRY"
In his statement to Sözcü newspaper regarding the retirement decision, Senior Colonel Ergün Cebeci said, "I served as a battalion commander twice, a company commander twice, provincial gendarmerie commander, and as an attaché, I packaged Hablebitoğlu's killer with Ukrainian intelligence. I captured the PKK's Baghdad-Erbil officials on the Polish border and handed them over to my country. I was promoted early twice. We cleared Erzincan and Tunceli of terrorism with my officers and soldiers. I recently handed over my duty and retired Brigadier General Nuh Köroğlu did the final cleaning and he was also retired. I participated in many operations on behalf of my country, without even blinking. We evacuated 17,000 of our citizens in the Ukraine-Russia war, and I managed the operation with our ambassador until the last citizen left. When I returned, I became the Commander of Tunceli Gendarmerie Regiment," he said.
"WE SAW THAT MERIT DOES NOT MATTER"
Senior Colonel Ergün Cebeci, who stated that he did not have any request regarding retirement, said, "The system excluded us in the retirement decision. We once again saw that merit does not matter in such decisions. I was retired without any reason given. I completed my 39-year military career in a bitter way. It means they appreciated me like this," he said.