Two French soldiers arrested in Turkey’s Marmaris

Two French soldiers arrested in Turkey’s Marmaris

MUĞLA – Doğan News Agency

Koral Kolbüken, who was physically assaulted by the French soldiers in Marmaris. DHA photo

Two French soldiers, who assaulted one person and stole his wallet, were arrested in the touristic town of Marmaris in Turkey’s southwestern province of Muğla on March 29.

The victim Koral Kolbüken filed a complaint against the soldiers, identified only as Cedric R., 28, and Loic R., 29, who were reportedly intoxicated during the attack.

The soldiers, who checked into hotels in Marmaris after their French warship anchored off NATO’s Aksaz Naval Base Command, went to the bar-heavy Barlar Street on the night of March 29. 

The soldiers, one of whom is a sergeant and one of whom is a specialized soldier, decided to go back to their hotels at 4 a.m. when they started to argue with Kolbüken, who was also intoxicated. 

Kolbüken was physically assaulted by the soldiers during the argument, and they then allegedly stole his wallet and started running.

Eyewitnesses called the police and officers patrolling the area caught the soldiers before taking them to the police station. The soldiers were later arrested by the Marmaris Courthouse.

After initial treatment, Kolbüken was taken to the Marmaris State Hospital. He later received back his wallet, which contained 320 liras (around 100 euros), and was discharged from hospital.