Prosecutor who called in Turkish intel chief removed from duty

ISTANBUL - Doğan News Agency

Hakan Fidan

Sadrettin Sarıkaya, the Turkish prosecutor who called National Intelligence Agency (MİT) team that held talks with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) to testify in an alleged terror case, has been removed from the case, reports have said.

İbrahim Işık and Adem Özcan have been chosen to replace Sarıkaya while Bilal Bayrakar will continue his task in the investigation, the reports said.

Sarıkaya said that he heard of his removal from the case on the TV. The former prosecutor was responsible for the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) - alleged urban wing of the PKK - investigation and he ordered the Feb 8. detention of four intelligence officers including former MİT chief Emre Taner and other former senior official Afet Güneş, as well as chief assistants, Yaşar Yıldırım and Hüseyin Kuzuoğlu. None of them abided to the order.

No other statement was made given on why Sarıkaya was relieved of his position.