Istanbul municipal police chief returns to post after 13 months of detention

Istanbul's European side municipal police chief, Hakan Aplak, has returned to his duties with applause following a period of detention and subsequent release. Aplak was taken into custody as part of an investigation into the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB).

At a ceremony held at the Municipal Police Department's conference hall, İBB Deputy Mayor Nuri Aslan conveyed greetings from Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. Aslan welcomed Aplak back, emphasizing his return with honor after approximately 14 months of "unjust and unlawful" detention. He noted that Aplak, a dedicated public servant since 1998, had always served the state and nation with loyalty and would continue to do so with the same conviction.

"You missed serving Istanbul, you missed your work; you missed his reassuring presence, friendship, and camaraderie," Aslan told Aplak's colleagues. He also extended a welcome to Nazan Başelli, the Anatolian side's municipal police chief, who he said stood firm against similar injustices. Aslan acknowledged the difficult times the municipality was facing but stressed their unwavering resolve and belief in eventual justice.

"We will win. Sooner or later, the righteous will win, justice will win. Just as we have reunited with Director Hakan today, we will reunite with all our colleagues who have suffered injustice, one by one," Aslan declared, referencing a visit to Silivri prison and the determination he witnessed there. He assured attendees that they would not give up, echoing Mayor İmamoğlu's message of perseverance and collective success.

Hakan Alpak, speaking amidst the applause of his colleagues, described the past 13 months (391 days) as the most difficult of his life. He expressed his happiness at being reunited with his work family after being separated from his own family during this period.

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Biliyorum; o İstanbulluya hizmet etmeyi, işini çok özledi; sizler de onun o güven veren duruşunu, dostluğunu ve mesai arkadaşlığını çok özlediniz. Bugün, onca zorluğun, onca haksızlığın ve çekilen bunca hasretin ardından gelen vuslat vaktidir. Hakan Aplak, bir Cumhuriyet evladıdır. 1998 yılından itibaren İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyemizde, Zabıta Müdürlüğümüz bünyesinde çeşitli görevlerde bulunmuştur. Her zaman devletine ve milletine sadakatle hizmet etmiştir; bugünden sonra da aynı inançla, aynı azimle hizmet etmeye devam edecektir. Evine, yuvana hoş geldin Hakan Aplak! Daha İstanbul için yürüyecek çok yolumuz, yapacak çok işimiz var!