According to information provided by a cellmate, 54-year-old Özkan, who worked in the Security Branch of the Ankara Police Department, was reassigned to the Directorate for the Protection of Sensitive Areas after the December 17/25 Corruption Operations. After July 15, Özkan was detained and arrested on October 1, 2016. He was sentenced to 6 years and 3 months based on the use of the ByLock messaging application and witness statements. He was released after spending 8 months in Sincan Prison, followed by approximately 8-9 months in Afyon Dinar Prison.

After his release, Özkan started a carpet cleaning business in Ankara to make a living. Approximately 2.5 years ago, he was re-arrested and sent back to Sincan Prison after his sentence was finalized. According to his cellmate, he had about three months left until the end of his sentence and had a very high chance of benefiting from supervised release. It was stated that Özkan met with his family for an open visit the day before his passing, and he was very cheerful and hopeful during this meeting. Özkan, who told his family, “I will be released 99 percent,” was reportedly making plans for after his release.

COLLAPSED WHILE PLAYING VOLLEYBALL IN THE COURTYARD

On April 30, around 4:30 PM, Özkan, who had gone out from his ward to the courtyard to play volleyball, suddenly fell ill and collapsed. Following the incident, he was taken to the Sincan Penal Institutions Campus Hospital. However, despite all interventions, he could not be saved. According to his cellmate, Özkan had previously endured harsh prison conditions and had even attended his father’s funeral in handcuffs.

Özkan, who was married and a father of three children in their twenties, was buried in Buğra village, Kalecik, Ankara.