Interior Ministry enforces reinstatement verdicts for dismissed police chiefs

The handover ceremony at the Interior Ministry, featuring Soylu (l) and Yerlikaya. (Photo: AA/File)

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Under a new minister appointed after the May elections, the Interior Ministry has begun implementing administrative court rulings for the reinstatement of the personnel who were either under administrative investigation or forced to retire.

Most recently, 14 first-class police directors who had been investigated and dismissed from their positions for various reasons have been reinstated to their roles, Habertürk news portal reported yesterday. These directors have been reassigned to the Directorate of Private Security and Oversight, the Office of Strategy Development, and the Inspection Board Presidency.

One of those reinstated, Murat Çetiner, a former deputy chief of police in İstanbul, had been relieved of his duties after compiling a report on the notorious "Saral" clan, a well-known entity within the underworld.

In addition to these reinstatements, personnel awaiting the implementation of reinstatement decisions across various cities and regions have returned to their duties. In Adana, Antalya, Bursa, İstanbul, and İzmir provinces, 24 first-class police directors have resumed their duties.

During Süleyman Soylu's tenure as interior minister following the attempted coup in July 2016, thousands of police officers, including high-ranking officials, were removed from their positions. Soylu handed over his post to former İstanbul Governor Ali Yerlikaya after this year's elections.

In early August, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan replaced the police directors of 24 provinces who were appointed during Soylu's time in office. (RT/VK)