Gürlek: 83 murders across 76 case files cleared from unsolved status

Justice Minister Akın Gürlek announced that 83 murders across 76 case files have been cleared from unsolved status and that three separate murder case files that had remained unsolved for 14, 16 and 20 years in Bursa and Bitlis have been reopened.

In a post on his social media account, Gürlek described the work carried out under the coordination of the Department of Investigation of Unsolved Crimes within the Ministry of Justice, in cooperation with chief public prosecutor's offices and law enforcement units. He reported that DNA analyses, forensic examination reports, HTS and cell tower records and witness statements were evaluated together in the investigations, and that operations were staged against suspects in line with the evidence obtained.

In the case file of Mehmet Arıcan, who was found shot dead with a hunting rifle in a forested area in Bursa's Mustafakemalpaşa district in 2010, HTS records, financial investigations and new witness statements were re-evaluated. One of the suspects detained in the operation was arrested.

In the case file of an unidentified woman found by the roadside in Bitlis's Tatvan district in 2006 with a gunshot wound to the head, DNA samples, HTS records and witness statements were re-examined. Two of the suspects detained in simultaneous operations were arrested, and a judicial control order was issued for two others. While work continues to secure an arrest warrant and a red notice for a fugitive suspect abroad, investigations continue to identify the murdered woman.

In the investigation into the murder of Mehmet Şahinoğlu, who disappeared in Bursa's Kestel district in 2012, forensic medical examinations of burnt human bones found in Kestel in 2015, dental records, communications data and witness statements were re-examined. In line with the findings, an operation was staged against 12 suspects and 11 suspects were detained; efforts continue to apprehend one fugitive suspect.

Gürlek thanked the Mustafakemalpaşa, Tatvan and Bursa chief public prosecutor's offices that conducted the investigations, the Bursa Provincial Police Department, the Bursa, Tatvan and Mustafakemalpaşa provincial and district gendarmerie commands and JASAT teams. Saying that "the passage of time cannot be grounds for crimes to go unpunished," Gürlek stated that they would follow up on the work to solve murders committed in the past. According to the statement reported by Anadolu Agency, the Minister said, "We will not allow any murder to be covered up over time."