Levent Ersöz (born 19 April 1954) is a former Turkey brigadier general in the Turkish Gendarmerie, who was head of the Gendarmerie's JITEM intelligence department.Today's Zaman, 15 January 2009, Fugitive former general Ersöz escapes police raid He was considered a key defendant in the Ergenekon trials, and on 5 August 2013 was sentenced to 22 years and six months.Today's Zaman, 5 August 2013, Long sentences for Ergenekon suspects, life for ex-army chief Hurriyet Daily News, 5 August 2013, 17 sentenced to life in Turkey's Ergenekon coup plot trial, including ex-military chief He was released on 11 March 2014. A trial charging Ersöz with the death of Turkish President Turgut Özal in 1993 began in September 2013.Today's Zaman, 11 September 2013, Trial into suspicious death of late president Özal begins Ersöz was found innocent and received an amnesty in March 2016.
Prosecutors have accused Ersöz of being behind the 2001 assassination of Diyarbakır Police Chief Gaffar Okkan and a 2006 attack on Faruk Çelik,Today's Zaman, 22 August 2009, Ergenekon suspect Levent Ersöz behind Okkan, Çelik attacks and of having had a role in the 1993 death of President Turgut Özal.Today's Zaman, 16 April 2013, Court accepts indictment seeking life for Ersöz over Özal's death The prosecution has shown a video of Ersöz talking to Bedrettin Dalan in 2004, saying "You are number three. Why don't you go out and talk like you're number one."Today's Zaman, 1 May 2009, Dalan was Ergenekon’s number three, says prosecution Police searching Ersöz' home had found nearly 2500 recordings of conversations.
Prosecutors have charged a hitman with a December 2009 attempt on Ersöz' life, describing it as an attempt to silence Ersöz.Today's Zaman, 3 November 2010, Ergenekon attempted to kill Levent Ersöz to silence him Shots were fired into the ceiling during a confrontation between the would-be assassin and gendarmes guarding Ersöz' room.Today's Zaman, 14 January 2010, Probe into Ersöz assassination attempt deepens
A suspect in the Ergenekon trials told prosecutors that Ersöz was his instructor in TUSHAD.Today's Zaman, 18 October 2012, Zirve massacre suspect: Ergenekon's armed wing still active
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