Hey, You Gambled and You Lost

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Milliyet Newspaper, 12 September 2018)


Mehmet Aziz Saral, seen at a rare moment when not coaching 
his daughter's basketball team.

In Istanbul and Antalya, 15 members of the Saral gang, which
entrapped businessmen in a gambling snare using the 'kareye
alma' (card game with 4 players) technique, have been arrested. 
The gang extorted high interest from the victimized businessmen
and ran virtual gambling operations through bank accounts opened
in Cyrus in the names of students. (!)

Last year, a businessman told prosecutors that a gang led by
Cem Esmer and Mehmet Aziz Saal demanded protection money
from him through threats and extortion and tried to take possession
of his property.  Istanbul police identified 10 businessmen like
the complainant who had been victimized by the gang. 

With the 'kareye alma' technique, the gang would have 3 of its
members sit at a gambling table with the businessman.  Through
coordination, the gang members caused the businessman to lose
and then forced him to sign over his assets.  With their 'winnings',
the gang opened a luxury restaurant and nightclub in Bodrum,
buying yachts and luxury cars for themselves, as well.

In coordinated raids 5 days ago, police arrested 15 gang members
in Istanbul, Muğla, Çorum and Trabzon.  However, gang leaders
Cem Esmer and Mehmet Aziz Saral remain at large.


Gang members pictured at a recent team-building exercise.