The 31st hearing of the case on the murder of Agos Newspaper Chief Editor Hrant Dink began at Istanbul 14th Heavy Penal Court in Çağlayan today. The then Intelligence Unit C Branch Director Ali Fuat Yılmazer, former Intelligence Unit Director Ramazan Akyürek and many other suspects appeared at court.

In his defense, former Intelligence Unit C Branch Director Ali Fuat Yılmazer said “All of them were appointed by then Prime Minister Erdoğan and officials. Why isn’t there a single political official here? Former Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is the person that authorized the Ergenekon and Balyoz investigations.”

Regarding the F3 No. 11, Yılmazer said that these claims do not involve him and pointed at the Gülen influence inside the police department. Yılmazer said “I worked with whoever was working there before me. These claims do not make the prosecutor look good.” The judge intervened in Yılmazer’s defense and warned him about his remarks on the prosecutor. Yılmazer continued on to say that ‘terror’ is a legal term and nobody could be questioned because of a non-existent organization.

'ERDOĞAN GAVE THE ORDER'

Regarding the assignment of Erhan Tuncel, Yılmazer stated that he had nothing to do with this and the C branch is not responsible for the assignment or firing of auxiliary intelligence agents. Yılmazer argued that he was kept silent through his arrest and he had nothing to do with directing a terrorist organization. In reference to other defendants, Yılmazer said “All of them were appointed by the then Prime Minister Erdoğan and officials. Why isn’t there a single political official here? Former Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is the person that authorized the Ergenekon and Balyoz investigations.”

Ali Fuat Yılmazer stated that it was the police officers in Trabzon and Istanbul, but not him, that failed to take security precautions and had a role in Dink’s murder. Yılmazer argued that he has never been to Trabzon, but a person called Engin Dinç has relations with the Gendarme in Trabzon that are difficult to explain. Regarding the statement of a police officer called Ayşegül Genç, Yılmazer said that Hrant Dink would receive protection just like Orhan Pamuk received.

The hearing will continue with Yılmazer’s defense.