Justice Minister Tunç Announces 6 Cold Case Murders Solved

Turkey's Minister of Justice, Yılmaz Tunç, announced a significant breakthrough in law enforcement, revealing that six long-unsolved murder cases have been solved. The announcement, made via his social media account, brings closure to families and aims to reassure the public about the state's commitment to justice.

"The incidents in which Ali Sarıoğlu, Esra Aşık, Gültekin Yıldırım, Mehmet Ali Türkmen, Selbi Uyğur, and Yusuf Sayaner lost their lives have been illuminated. We will mobilize all the resources of our state to shed light on events that remained in the dark," Minister Tunç stated. These cases, which occurred between 2005 and 2016 in various cities, had remained open wounds in the public conscience for years.

The renewed investigations were conducted under the coordination of the Ministry of Justice's newly established Department for Researching Unsolved Crimes. Utilizing contemporary technological capabilities, including advanced criminal investigations, DNA matching, HTS (mobile phone traffic analysis) and base station analysis, re-interviewed witness statements, and newly acquired evidence, the files were meticulously re-examined.

Specific details emerged regarding the progress in individual cases. In Balıkesir, the investigation into the arson death of Esra Aşık 21 years ago was reopened, leading to the arrest and detention of a suspect. In Denizli, the 20-year-old murder of Mehmet Ali Türkmen was solved through consistent witness testimonies and HTS records, resulting in the apprehension and arrest of two suspects. In Hatay, the disappearance and presumed murder of Selbi Uyğur 14 years ago concluded with confessions, location identification, and excavation, where human bones identified through DNA analysis as belonging to Uyğur were found, initiating legal proceedings.

Minister Tunç reiterated the government's determination, under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's leadership and in full coordination with the Ministry of Interior and other relevant institutions, to ensure that perpetrators of unsolved crimes are brought before justice. The ministry's efforts aim to illuminate all dark events and provide closure through comprehensive and rigorous investigations.

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The incidents in which Ali Sarıoğlu, Esra Aşık, Gültekin Yıldırım, Mehmet Ali Türkmen, Selbi Uyğur, and Yusuf Sayaner lost their lives have been illuminated. We will mobilize all the resources of our state to shed light on events that remained in the dark.