$100 Million Fraud Could Net Her 100 Years in Prison

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Vatan Newspaper, 16 July 2018)



                       "Have I got a deal for you!"

In Bursa, Özlem Akçeşme worked as an accountant in a factory for
24 years.  Akçeşme persuaded workers to participate in a fund that
was established by businessmen and rich people she knew. In a
short time, Akçeşme began to distribute profits of 8-10% each month
to those who contributed to the fund.

Later this proportion increased to 25-50% and Akçeşme was able
to get some businessmen to contribute their own money or money
they borrowed from friends or banks.  But in August 2016 Akçeşme
stopped distributing profits to participants, saying that "because of
OHAL (state of emergency) and BDDK (banking regulator)
examining accounts, we have to wait a bit.  The money has been
put in another account. Lawyers are holding it.  The Central Bank
has the money so don't worry."

As the result of complaints filed by some suspicious businessmen,
Akçeşme was fired and when 13 people filed criminal complaints
against her she was arrested.  The complainants alleged that Akçeşme
had defrauded $100 million (!).   In her defense, Akçeşme asserted
that "I was giving the money to senior director N.Y. and he, together
with E.S., was paying the money with interest."

Akçeşme has been released pending trial and she faces 100 years
in prison for defrauding 20 people.  N.Y. and E.S. face the same
charges and jail sentence.