Instigator says he aimed to intimidate, not kill former Gray Wolves leader

The instigator suspect behind the murder of the former leader of gray wolves in Turkey said he only wanted to intimidate him by inflicting a wound, not kill him, according to his testimonial to the police which was published by NTV.

Dogukan Cep, who was arrested on Friday in Istanbul told the police that “he had asked the victim Sinan Ates to help him with a court case but he was not interested.”

“I got angry after this, and planned this incident to scare and intimidate him,” he said in his testimony.

Cep had already been sentenced to 35 years over charges including involvement in another murder has been on the run for the last four years.

Analysts said Sinan Ates, who was killed on December 30 with a bullet in his head, was at loggerheads with nationalist MHP (Nationalist Movement Party) administration and was accused with betrayal before leaving his post, and had many foes among the nationalist movement.

A senior MHP figure, Ufuk Kokturk, who was earlier arrested, admitted that he transferred money to Dogukan Cep, after getting a call from him asking for money, but refused that he had any knowledge of murder.

Two police officers from a special task force are also behind bars after being accused of collecting and using a Volkswagen transporter van to carry the gunman from Istanbul to Ankara.

Reports say that the gunman who was identified as Eray Ozyagci could have already fled to Syria.