21.04.2026 23:16
Former Tunceli Governor Tuncay Sonel, who was detained in Elazığ and brought to Erzurum within the scope of the investigation into Gülistan Doku, was arrested by the court after his prosecutor's interrogation. While being taken to prison, Sonel, whose lack of handcuffs during transfer to the courthouse caused controversy, drew attention by placing his coat over his hands.
Former Tunceli Governor Tuncay Sonel, who was detained in Elazığ and brought to Erzurum as part of the investigation into Gülistan Doku, was arrested by the court after his prosecutor's interrogation.
TUNCAY SONEL ARRESTED
Tuncay Sonel, who was detained by Elazığ Provincial Police Department teams and later brought to Erzurum by road, was taken to Erzurum Courthouse after a 3-day interrogation at Erzurum Police Department Public Order Branch. Brought to the courthouse under tight security measures, Tuncay Sonel was questioned about the allegations against him regarding the Gülistan Doku investigation.
After approximately 8 hours of prosecutor's interrogation, Sonel was referred to the 1st Criminal Court of Peace with a request for his arrest on charges of: Destroying, concealing, or altering evidence of a crime (TCK 281/1), Obstructing, damaging, or destroying data in a system (TCK 244/2), Violation of privacy of private life (TCK 134/1), Unlawfully obtaining personal data (TCK 136), and Destroying, damaging, or concealing an official document (TCK 205).
HE HID HIS HANDS WITH HIS COAT
Following the hearing, the court panel decided to arrest Tuncay Sonel. Tuncay Sonel was then sent to Erzurum Dumlu High-Security Prison. While being taken to the courthouse in the morning, Sonel had been criticized for 'discrimination' because his hands were not handcuffed. It was noted that while being taken to prison, he placed his coat over his hands.
CONFIRMED THE SIM CARD ALLEGATION
Interesting details emerged from Tuncay Sonel's statement given to the Erzurum Republic Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. Responding to the question of why the SIM card belonging to Gülistan Doku, one of the most notable details of the investigation, was not handed over to judicial units, Sonel answered with the defense of "to gain speed." In his statement, Sonel said, "While leaving the governor's office building, I saw Aygül Doku crying. She told me, 'Dear Governor, there is a SIM card, I can't reach the prosecutor, they won't take it.' I took it out of humanitarian considerations. Since the search and rescue operations were intensively ongoing, I sent it to Commissioner Gökhan, whose technical expertise I trust in Ankara, for the purpose of quickly checking the location information."
"I DID NOT GIVE THE ORDER TO DELETE THE CAMERA FOOTAGE"
Regarding the question in the expert reports about cameras overlooking the viaduct on the day of the incident being active, but police officers recording in the minutes that "the cameras were not working," Sonel responded as follows: "I did not give the order to delete these camera recordings and destroy evidence. If there is a technical issue within the university, it should be asked there. I am not aware of the answers from the General Directorate of Security and Tunceli Security stating 'there was no malfunction.' The relevant authority is the Provincial Police Chief."