Driver swap uncovered in Turkish opposition leader’s accident

ISTANBUL - Doğan News Agency

Republican People’s Party (CHP) head Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu’s car crashed with another car on the evening of May 27 while trying to avoid an oversize vehicle in the İscehisar district of Afyonkarahisar. DHA photo

The suspect initially taken into custody following a collision with Republican People’s Party (CHP) head Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu’s vehicle was not the driver of the car at the time of the accident, according to the police investigation.

Basri Ünal was taken to a police station as the driver following the accident, but conflicting reports prompted police forces to investigate further. Basri Ünal testified again, this time saying he had swapped seats with his brother, Osman Ünal, who was the one driving the car at the time of the accident.

Osman Ünal, 29, has been involved with legal cases related to unpaid debts and had warrants issued for him, making him fear arrest. The brothers swapped seats after the crash, according to Osman Ünal’s testimony.

Osman Ünal was fined for “fleeing the scene of an accident and not alerting the authorities” regarding traffic charges. Both brothers will be sent to court following medical examinations, where Basri Ünal will face charges of giving false testimony, Anatolia news agency reported.

Kılıçdaroğlu’s car crashed with the car the evening of May 27 while trying to avoid an oversize vehicle in the İscehisar district of Afyonkarahisar.

Kılıçdaroğlu and senior CHP officials survived the accident without injuries, said Adnan Keskin, the party’s deputy chair, adding that the car had been damaged.

The oversized vehicle was driven by a man without a driver’s license, reports said.