Serdar Öktem, a lawyer who was a key figure in the high-profile investigation into the 2022 assassination of former Grey Wolves leader Sinan Ateş, was shot and killed in an armed attack in Istanbul’s Bağcılar district. The murder has sent shockwaves through a case already mired in political controversy, as it comes just months after both the Istanbul Police Department and Ateş’s widow issued explicit warnings that Öktem’s life was in danger.
Öktem’s connection to the politically charged case was significant. According to Turkish news outlet T24 he had been previously arrested as a suspect in the Ateş murder investigation but was later released pending trial. His alleged role and the information he possessed were considered crucial to unraveling the conspiracy behind the assassination, which has implicated individuals across criminal and political spheres. His death is now seen by many as a deliberate effort to silence a critical witness.
The most poignant warning came from Sinan Ateş’s widow, Ayşe Ateş, who has been a relentless advocate for justice for her husband. During a court hearing, she directly addressed the judicial panel, stating that Öktem was a vital link in the case and his life was at risk. “I had conveyed to the court committee that Serdar Öktem's safety needed to be ensured,” she stated following his murder. In a tragic reflection on the court’s failure to act, she added, “I don’t want time to prove me right, I want justice to be served.” Her pleas underscore a growing fear that key figures in the case are being systematically eliminated to prevent the full truth from emerging.
Further compounding the tragedy is the revelation that law enforcement was aware of a specific threat against Öktem. In August, approximately two months before the killing, the Istanbul Police Department’s Intelligence Branch sent an official notice to relevant units. The memo warned that the notorious “Daltonlar” (Daltons) organized crime syndicate was planning to carry out an attack on Serdar Öktem and urged that preventative security measures be taken. Despite this credible intelligence from within the police force, Öktem was left unprotected, raising serious questions about systemic failures.
The brutal nature of the attack points to a professional assassination. An initial autopsy report revealed that Öktem was struck by ten bullets, with seven exiting his body, indicating the intensity of the assault. The murder of Serdar Öktem is not only a personal tragedy but a devastating blow to the Sinan Ateş murder investigation, further obscuring the path to justice and fueling speculation of a deep-seated cover-up designed to protect powerful interests.
Photo: T24