Court Finds Defense Ministry Partially Guilty of Soldier Suicide

An Ankara Military Court Council found Turkey’s Defense Ministry partially guilty of the suicide of Murat Oktay Can, a compulsory drafted soldier, ordering the ministry to pay roughly 3,000 euros as damages.

According to Radikal newspaper, Murat Oktay Can committed suicide during his military service in Hozat, Tunceli province in 2009.

“Can’s preliminary psychological tests already demonstrated that he had issue due to family or significant other. Rather than transferring him to further tests, the administration ordered him to be on armed active duty which holds them partially responsible,” the verdict said.   

Oktay Can, the father, claimed that he didn’t commit suicide but he was killed.

Reacting to ex-military chief Koşaner’s previous remarks which suggested that “They would shot their soldiers in the head and take responsibility”, Can said: “He is talking about my son. So far, courts only dropped charges. My son had two bullet wounds in the head. They tried to hide one with aesthetic surgery.  

Can family also filed an official complaint on İlker Başbuğ, another ex-military chief. (EKN/BM)