Ruling AKP's former staffer remanded after denying drug charges

Turkish police remanded into custody a former ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) employee on Sunday, a day after he was released from detention on drug charges, Sözcü newspaper reported.

Kürşat Ayvatoğlu, a former staff member at AKP’s Ankara headquarters, was briefly detained on Friday after video footage emerged  of him on social media seemingly consuming cocaine.

Ayvatoğlu’s social media posts, featuring images of himself with luxury cars, consuming drugs and alcohol, caused a stir, with critics blasting the Islamist AKP for payrolling his lifestyle.

Ayvatoğlu, who previously worked in research and development for the AKP, was fired by the party over the weekend, despite denying the charges against him. Ayvatoğlu defended himself by claiming that the white substance he was seen snorting in the video was actually icing sugar, Sözcü said

Ayvatoğlu’sdefence has sparked mockery on social media, with the hashtags "icing sugar" and "Pablo Escobar" trending on Turkish Twitter on Sunday.

The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office on Sunday issued a statement saying the former AKP staff member was under investigation for potential violation of Article 188 of the Turkish Penal Code pertaining to narcotic substances, Sözcü said.

The suspect was detained on Sunday after other suspects detained over the video in question said the substance Ayvatoğlu consumed was in fact cocaine, the prosecutor’s office said.

Meanwhile, Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu has blasted critics linking him to the Ayvatoğlu, citing a photograph where the pair are pictured together.

Soylu said it was impossible to know the background of each person he meets or takes a photo with him.

"Are we to ask for a criminal record check (from people) before being photographed with them?’’ Sözcü cited Soylu as saying.