ERGENEKON CASE

The Prosecution issued a statement about Tuncay Güney, a mysterious key figure in the Ergenekon case. Güney, who currently lives in Canada, was questioned by the police as early as 2001. Güney's identity is contested; some say he is a former spy of the Turkish Intelligence Service (MIT), others see him as a fugitive suspect, while still others believe his claims are nonsense.

"He gave us information about the organization. He benefited from the repentance law that way. Hence, an arrest warrant was not issued", the Prosecution said.

Tuncay Güney's statement was the initial reason to launch the Ergenekon investigation. Recently, the Prosecution announced why an arrest warrant had not been issued in Güney's name even though three years have passed.

As reported by the NTV news channel, detained defendants of the First Ergenekon trial lawyer Kemal Kerinçsiz and retired Brigadier General Veli Kücük were asked in the 156^th hearing of the case on 27 August 2010 why no arrest warrant had been issued yet in Güney's name even though three years have passed in the meantime. Prosecutor Mehmet Ali Pekgüzel replied in a statement that Güney benefited from the repentance law and thus an arrest warrant had not been issued.

Prosecutor Pekgüzel reminded the fact that Güney was residing in Canada and that that he applied to take his statement there.

The Court President declared that Güney had demanded legal aid and appealed to the Canadian judicial authorities. Thereupon, the file in Canada was closed. (BT/VK)