Gülistan Doku investigation: Police diver arrested in fifth wave of operations

Authorities have reached a new stage in the investigation into the disappearance of university student Gülistan Doku, who has been missing since January 5, 2020, in Tunceli. During the fifth wave of operations coordinated by the Erzurum and Tunceli Chief Public Prosecutor's Offices, 10 suspects were detained.

Gürkan Gürdal, a police diver known as the ‘fish man,’ has been arrested by court order. Two other suspects, Alaattin Kocamemik and Vahit İlgör, were released under judicial control, a decision the prosecution has appealed. This latest development brings the total number of detainees in the case to 29.

Justice Minister Akın Gürlek reported that investigators have uncovered significant new findings, including updated data from the License Plate Recognition (LPR) system and communication records regarding the bridge where Doku was last seen. The investigation is also examining suspicious access to Doku’s social media accounts and discrepancies between official search reports and diver logbooks. There are also allegations that personal items may have been placed underwater to create a false impression of suicide.