Prosecutor rules out foul play in death of ASELSAN engineer
Ankara Chief Prosecutor's Office ruled for nonsuit in the death of Erdem Uğur, an engineer at ASELSAN, Turkey's top defense contractor. Uğur was found dead in his Ankara home last year in a suspected suicide and was the latest victim of a string of mysterious deaths associated with ASELSAN, which is operated by a foundation linked to the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK).
Prosecutors said although the case was treated as a suspicious death in the light of previous deaths of engineers and staff at the defense contractor, there was no evidence pointing to a murder.
Uğur died of gas poisoning according to the coroner's report and it was initially believed that he committed suicide by turning on the gas.
Prosecutors said although there was no indication that Uğur had no known problems regarding his work at ASELSAN or his friends and girlfriend, his psychological assessment before his employment at the defense company showed he had suicidal tendencies. They pointed out that there was no sign of forced entry into the victim's residence.
Erdem Uğur started working as a calibration engineer at ASELSAN in 2014 and eyewitnesses interviewed by prosecutors and police said he was a calm and friendly person although he was a little shy with no extraordinary behavior showing a suicidal tendency.
The series of suspicious deaths associated with the defense contractor began in 2006 when engineer Hüseyin Başbilen was found dead in his car in the capital Ankara with cuts on his wrists and neck. Seven months after the death of Başbilen, Halim Ünsem Ünal, 29, another ASELSAN employee, was found with a bullet in his head in Ankara's Gölbaşı district. One week later, Evrim Yançeken, an electrical engineer at the company, fell from the balcony of his apartment on the sixth floor and died. In 2008, Zafer Oluk, a former employee of the defense contractor, who was working on secret projects according to media reports, died of electrocution during his compulsory service in the Turkish army. One year later, Burhaneddin Volkan was found dead with a bullet in his head in a commander's room while he was serving in the army. All deaths were either ruled as suicide or as, in the case of Oluk, an accident. Opposition lawmakers have called on the government to carry out an investigation into all the deaths related to ASELSAN while the families of some victims claimed their sons were killed.
ASELSAN designs, develops and manufactures military communication systems, radar and electronic warfare systems, electro-optical systems and defense and weapon systems for the army.
Prosecutors said although the case was treated as a suspicious death in the light of previous deaths of engineers and staff at the defense contractor, there was no evidence pointing to a murder.
Uğur died of gas poisoning according to the coroner's report and it was initially believed that he committed suicide by turning on the gas.
Prosecutors said although there was no indication that Uğur had no known problems regarding his work at ASELSAN or his friends and girlfriend, his psychological assessment before his employment at the defense company showed he had suicidal tendencies. They pointed out that there was no sign of forced entry into the victim's residence.
Erdem Uğur started working as a calibration engineer at ASELSAN in 2014 and eyewitnesses interviewed by prosecutors and police said he was a calm and friendly person although he was a little shy with no extraordinary behavior showing a suicidal tendency.
The series of suspicious deaths associated with the defense contractor began in 2006 when engineer Hüseyin Başbilen was found dead in his car in the capital Ankara with cuts on his wrists and neck. Seven months after the death of Başbilen, Halim Ünsem Ünal, 29, another ASELSAN employee, was found with a bullet in his head in Ankara's Gölbaşı district. One week later, Evrim Yançeken, an electrical engineer at the company, fell from the balcony of his apartment on the sixth floor and died. In 2008, Zafer Oluk, a former employee of the defense contractor, who was working on secret projects according to media reports, died of electrocution during his compulsory service in the Turkish army. One year later, Burhaneddin Volkan was found dead with a bullet in his head in a commander's room while he was serving in the army. All deaths were either ruled as suicide or as, in the case of Oluk, an accident. Opposition lawmakers have called on the government to carry out an investigation into all the deaths related to ASELSAN while the families of some victims claimed their sons were killed.
ASELSAN designs, develops and manufactures military communication systems, radar and electronic warfare systems, electro-optical systems and defense and weapon systems for the army.