Istanbul, April 24, (dpa/GNA) – A Turkish court has jailed a former provincial governor pending trial over the disappearance of a female university student six years ago, state news agency Anadolu Agency reported on Wednesday.
Former Tunceli governor Tuncay Sonel, was arrested late on Tuesday on charges including destroying, concealing or altering evidence, Anadolu said.
Sonel, who served as governor of the eastern province from 2017 to 2020 and took part in early search efforts after the student, Gülistan Doku, went missing in January 2020, is among 12 suspects now in custody in the investigation. Governors in Turkey are appointed by the central government.
Authorities now believe the 21-year-old may have been killed.
Sonel’s son was previously arrested on suspicion of intentional homicide. Other suspects include a former police officer accused of deleting phone data and a doctor linked to missing records.
Justice Minister Akin Gürlek said a special unit has been set up to locate her remains.
For years, women’s rights groups and Doku’s family have called for the case to be solved, amid broader concerns over unresolved femicide cases in Turkey.
GNA