Turks Face a New Years Without Fake Perfume

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 31 December 2021)

fake perfume addiction click here for related 

coverage from a year ago.

                     70,000 New Years' dates ruined!!

Gendarmerie teams determined that perfume being offered for sale over

the internet as New Years' gifts were fake, even though the bottles are

exactly like the real thing and have serial numbers. (!) 

In the course of the investigation, it turned out that 4 people in Bağcılar

district of Istanbul were offering fake perfume as the original brand so

in raids conducted at four addresses A.G., M.B., H.B. and K.B. were 

taken into custody.  

70,000 (!) bottles of fake perfume were seized in the raids, along with

a perfume filling machine, four bottle-capping machines and a gelatin

coating machine.  In addition, many empty famous-brand perfume 

bottles and boxes brought into Turkey from abroad were seized, too.

            Suspects claimed it was their science fair project.

"Angel of Death" Takes an Angel with a Bottle of Marble Polish, in Selçuk

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 30 December 2021)

In Selçuk district of Izmir province, Özde Çivici (31), worked in the 

public relations unit of a hotel.  Last Monday evening, after distributing

brochures about the hotel's New Years' activities, she returned to her

room.  There, Çivici drank a clear liquid in a plastic water bottle that 

she thought was water.  Subsequently, she became ill and was rushed to 

a hospital, where she died from massive organ failure. It turned out that 

the liquid Çivici drank was marble polish, not water. (!) 

Investigators found that plastic bottles filled with water and marble

polish, respectively, were placed right next to each other.  A marble 

craftsman and a number of his workers gave statements, as the 

investigation sought to determine whether there was negligence 

involved.  (ya think?)

 

"Beat & Release": American Tourist Killed by Youth Gang in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 29 December 2021)

       Killer was "just out shopping" at 5 in the morning.

In Beyoğlu, Istanbul, yesterday at about 5 o'clock in the morning, 

American tourist Leonard Samuel Record, who came to Istanbul 20

days ago, was walking along the street with a friend when someone

from a group of youths coming in the opposite direction bumped into 

him on purpose.  As Record tried to move away, the members of the

group of youths began to kick and punch him. 

In the course of the attack, one of the youths stabbed Record in the 

calf of his leg.  An ambulance arrived and Record was taken to a 

hospital, where, despite all efforts, he died.  Meanwhile, the group

of youths fled.  Police reviewed video footage and saw that after 

fleeing on foot the attackers got into a taxi .

Police tracked down Ferhat Kavdır, E.A., M.K.O. and T.D. and took

them into custody.  Three of them were released on judicial control and

Kavdır was taken to jail. 

                          Beyoğlu district of Istanbul

TNT Rode Rage Edition: Thieves Who Steal & Taunt For the Fun of It, in Esenyurt

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 28 December 2021)

                  And no extra charge for the paint job. 

In Esenyurt, Istanbul, on the night of 21 December, Yusuf Ağbulak

parked his panel van bearing license plate 77 AF 993 and went home.

The next morning Ağbulak found that his van had gone missing so he 

called the police, who found the van the night before last and had it 

put in a police parking lot. 

Ağbulak went to the lot and was shocked to see the condition of his

van.  The thieves had spray-painted the words "İşte böyle çalarız" (Hey,

this is how we steal) on the side of the van and a smiley-face on the door.

  

A bewildered Ağbulak stated that "they ruined the vehicle and wrote 

smart-ass words.  I wiped off the paint with paint thinner but the van's 

paint job is ruined, too. They broke the sliding door, the rearview mirror 

and the bumper. They're both thieves and  insolent bastards."

            Esenyurt (a.k.a. "Esencılıs", Istanbul's LA)

Vehicular "Weekend at Bernie's" , From Istanbul to Bursa

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 26 December 2021)

                        Life imitates art.

Yemeni Nabıl Mohammed Abdullah Zabıba was reported missing in 

Istanbul but it turned out that he was murdered.  After he was killed,

his killer put his body in the front seat of a car, fastened the seat belt

and put a cover over the body to make it appear that Zabıba was asleep.

The killer drove from Istanbul to Bursa this way and dumped the body

in a wooded area there. 

Police began an investigation when Zabıba's wife Manal M.M.A. 

reported him missing in Beylikdüzü, Istanbul, and determined that

Zabıba had last met with Ahmed Gamil, also from Yemen, at the car

dealership where Zabıba worked.  Gamil was taken into custody

and, under questioning, ultimately confessed to the killing. But he

claimed that his boss Adnan İ., from Saudi Arabia, had put him up

to the job so Adnan İ. was taken into custody, as well. 

                           "Bernie" (a.k.a. Zabıba), right.

Police learned that Gamil was deep in debt and was selling cars that

he had rented from Zabıba.  When Zabıba realized this the two met at

Gürpınar, on the coast of the Sea of Marmara in Beylikdüzü, where

Gamil shot Zabıba dead.  Gamil then put Zabıba's body in the front 

seat of his car, fastened the seat belt and covered the body to make it

look like Zabıba was asleep.  After a 100 kilometer drive to Bursa,

Gamil threw Zabıba's body in a wooded area there.

Adnan İ., refuted Gamil's accusation that he had told him to kill Zabıba

but police determined that there were debt problems between the two

and jailed them both. 

 

TNT Road Rage Edition: Even Parked Cars Are Not Exempt

türkçe links to original Turkish article & video

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 24 December 2021)

                        "It's raining bricks Halalullah!"

In the Cebeci neighborhood of Sultangazi, Istanbul, at 2 o'clock in the

morning on the night of 22 December, a woman and two men began

arguing in a parked car.  After the woman got out of the car, the two

men did, as well, and the argument continued for a time on the sidewalk.

At this point, the enraged woman climbed atop a pile of bricks and 

began throwing the bricks down on the car, causing extensive damage

to the vehicle.  

A while later, the woman calmed down, got into a taxi with the two men 

and they left the scene.  Abdülkadir Adeloğlu, who had loaned the car to

his friend, arrived at the scene and was shocked to see its condition after 

the woman's brick attack.  He claimed not to know the woman but said he 

would file a complaint against her. 

                                         Hate-crime victim.

"Godfather" Sequel, Featuring a Mega-Yacht and Restaurant Carnage, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Cumhuriyet Newspaper, 23 December 2021)

                                    Boys will be boys.

Former SWAT policeman Ziya Bandırmalıoğlu, who was involved in the

infamous 'Susurluk' scandal of the 1990s about police-mafia connections,

had been out of sight for quite a while.  But last Monday evening, 

together with retired policeman Şahin Aslan, he went to the Develi

restaurant in Kalamış, Istanbul.  There, Bandırmalıoğlu and Aslan held a 

meeting with Fuat Çaıkıroğlu and Ayhan Çakıroğlu to solve a debt

problem. 

However (!), at 2254 hours the two parties began firing at each other 

across the table for about 20 seconds.  Bandırmalıoğlu and Aslan were

killed in the gunfire exchange, while the Çakıroğlu's and three others 

were wounded. 

According to information obtained by Timur Soykan of BirGün 

newspaper, the reason for the clash was the sale of one of Turkey's

largest yachts 'Lord of The Seas'.  The 58-meter yacht's first name was

'Egeria', owned by Hüseyin Rüştü Altuntaş and launched in 2012.  

Worth 40 million Euro, the yacht has a helicopter pad, swimming pool,

sauna and sports salon.  The luxury yacht can be driven from afar by

means of mobile equipment. 

       Bandırmalıoğlu's thirst quenched by Çakıroğlu.

After Altuntaş died a dispute arose within his family about who would

own the yacht henceforth.  A few years ago, Altuntaş's sons wanted to 

sell the yacht and found a buyer in Hasan Peker, who owned the land

where Nef Ataköy (a big housing-office complex in Istanbul) was built.

The sale price was 25 million Euro and Peker gave the sons 8 stores

in Nef Ataköy as payment.  

                               All the fuss was about this.

The stores, though, proved to be worth only 10 million Euro so the

Altuntaş sons wanted Peker to give the yacht back to them.  Peker 

refused to bargain further and the two sides began exchanging threats.

Six months ago, Bandırmalıoğlu told the sons, Erkan and Volkan

Altuntaş, that he could "solve the problem" for $2 million.  So while

discussing this 'solution' at the Develi restaurant, a fight erupted 

between Erkan Altuntaş and Fuat Çakıroğlu.  

Once Erkan Altuntaş left the restaurant in a huff, Bandırmalıoğlu and

Aslan arrived.  After chatting with the Çakıroğlu's for a bit, guns were

drawn and the carnage ensued.

                             Kalamış (blue marker)

"World's Oldest Profession" Recycling to Arts Center in Beyoğlu

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 21 December 2021)

brothel background click here for the gory details.

Two years ago, the 'genel evler' (houses of ill repute) on Zürafa,

Alageyik and Kadem streets in Beyoğlu, Istanbul, were shuttered 

because of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Subsequently, the buildings

went to ruin but now, with an initiative from Beyoğlu Mayor Haydar

Ali Yıldız, work has begun to transform the buildings into an arts 

center. 

The heirs to Madam Matild Manukyan, who ran the 'genelevleri'

and got rich from them, owning 37 pieces of real estate on the 

streets, have agreed to the project.  Dora Çilingir, İlda Çilingir

and Edvin Çilingir, the heirs, will cover the costs of rehabilitating

the buildings. 

"Beat & Release": Head-Butt on Doctor Goes Unpunished. What Else is New?

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sözcü Newspaper, 20 December 2021)

Tahir D. claimed he was showing the doctor a new surgical

technique... 

In Didim district of Aydın province,  Tahir D. was nabbed by police for

drunk driving and brought to Didim State Hospital for a check-up.  

Upon arrival, Tahir D. head-butted Dr. Doğancan Kılıç for no reason,

opening a gash in the doctor's face that required five stitches to close. 

Nevertheless, Tahir D. was released (!) by the court after police 

processing.  The release drew widespread condemnation from health

workers, who have long been subjected to such attacks but the 

assailants are seldom punished.  

                                ..."Thanks but no thanks."

Dr. Kılıç commented that "I was going to examine him and told him

to come forward.  At that point, he head-butted me for no reason 

whatsoever."  Aydin provincial health chief  Dr. Osman Açıkgöz 

promised to pursue the matter and condemned the attack.  On social

media Prof. Dr. Şehsuvar Ertürk cursed those who turned a blind eye

to such assaults on health workers. 

Driving Test Anxiety's High Tech Remedy Exposed, in Osmaniye

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 17 December 2021)

Has a chip on his shoulder (literally!) about having 

to take this test unassisted.

In Osmaniye, Osman S. entered a room to take his driver's license test 

the day before yesterday but he looked suspicious to the proctors.  The

police were summoned and a search of Osman S. was conducted.  On 

his right shoulder, the police found a camera, cellphone, modem and

headphones, along with a device to transmit and receive voice and 

pictures over the internet. (!) 

Osman S. was taken into custody, as were F.Ş., Ş.T. and İ.K., who were

determined to be in contact with Osman S.  In his statement to police,

Osman S. said that he had spent 8,000 TL (about $500) on the contraption.

As usual, the Chinese are way ahead on this issue - 

Chinese cheater click here for the gory details.

"Beat & Release": Deviant Repeats Elevator Fetish, But This Time He's Jailed

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 15 December 2021)

                          He even wears elevator shoes!

Palestinian A.A., who sexually assaulted an Uzbek woman named U.K. 

in an elevator, was caught and jailed by police.  However (!), A.A. had

sexually assaulted a young girl in another elevator in 2020 but he was

released at that time. 

Uzbek U.K., who lives in the Pınar neighborhood of  Esenyurt district,

Istanbul, entered an elevator in her building at about 0430 hours last

Sunday morning.  As the elevator door was about to close, a man got

in and, after standing behind U.K. for a few moments, he turned the 

elevator camera around.   The man then tried to rape U.K. but when she

screamed and resisted, he fled when the elevator doors opened. 

Police determined from security camera footage that the attacker was 

Palestinian A.A. (16), who had been taken into custody last year for a

sexual assault against a young girl in an elevator in a nearby building. 

In her statement, U.K. said that "I was coming back from my friend's

birthday party. I got into the elevator and a man entered as the doors

were closing.  As I was looking at my phone, he attacked me and put

his hand over my mouth so I couldn't scream.  He threw me to the 

floor, grabbed my breasts and tried to take off my stockings.  I tried

to kick him and when the elevator doors opened he fled."

Now (in)famous, A.A. was hoping for a big elevator shoe 

endorsement deal.  (There's no such thing as 'bad 

publicity'.)

Deer Are Prime Suspects in Headlight Thefts in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 13 December 2021)

                               "Revenge Will be Mine!"

S.A., who lives in the Küçükbakkalköy neighborhood of Ataşehir 

district, Istanbul, went to his car in the morning only to find that

the headlights had been stolen during the night. (!)   I.A. (no relation,

one assumes), of nearby Çekmeköy's Çamlık neighborhood told police

that the headlights of his car, worth 100,000 TL (about $8,000), had

been stolen, too. 

Reviewing security video footage, police saw 4 individuals wearing

hats and medical masks remove the headlights in 30 seconds (!) and

melt into the night.  Between 26-30 November, in Ataşehir and 

Çekmeköy the headlights of seven cars were removed by the same

method.

Police were able to determine the identity of one of the thieves and 

arrested Adem E. (24) in Maltepe.  Police also learned that the 

headlight heisters sold their loot to auto repair shops and over the

internet for half-price.  Adem E. was arraigned and put into Maltepe

Prison, as police efforts continue to nab the remaining three gang

members. 

Adem E. has confessed that he was hired by a 

herd of deer in Çekmeköy. 

"Senior Engineer" Couple Surrender $1 Million to Tele-Swindlers in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 12 December 2021)

NOTE: see three TNT reports from October about

similar phone frauds, all of which could have been

prevented if the victims had said "I don't speak 

Turkish!" at the outset.  Sigh...

           If only C.A. had video phone service! Still...

In Istanbul, callers identifying themselves as policemen, phoned a 

woman named C.A., a senior engineer by profession.  The callers told

C. A. "your accounts have been seized by FETÖ (Fethullah Gülen

Terror Organization).  We've started an operation so until the operation

is over you have to give us all the money you have at home and in the

bank.  We'll give it back to you when the operation is over." (!)

C.A., in a panic, had her husband E.A., also a professional senior 

engineer, help her gather up all the money in the house and they left.

At a park in Sarıyer, they gave a courier $500,000.  The next day, the

hoodwinkers called again, saying "bring the money you have in the bank,

too."  This time, the caller had the couple meet the courier in a park in

Göktürk, where they turned over $400,000 to a courier.  

A few days later, the swindlers called again and asked whether the 

couple had any more money.  When C.A. admitted that there was still

$70,000 left in the bank, the caller demanded in an angry voice "Bring

that money too!"  The couple was directed to Botanik Park in Bakırköy,

where they handed over the remaining $70,000.  

Still not satisfied, the bilkers called again, saying "sell your house and

bring the money to the place I designate."  At this point (!), the couple

called the real police, explained what had happened to them and 

realized they had been hoodwinked by the callers. They filed a 

complaint with the police, who are looking for the tele-swindlers.

English Settles Traffic Dispute Between Dialect-estranged Turks

türkçe links to original Twitter posting and video

           What we have here is a failure to communicate.

Two Turkish men got into a traffic dispute but their regional dialects

of Turkish - Kastamonu (Black Sea) and Adana (Mediterranean Sea) -

prevented them from communicating to resolve the matter.  As

tensions rose between the two they resorted to speaking English and

solved the problem amicably. 

                       ...and never the twain shall meet.

Arab Kidney Transplant Traffickers' Istanbul 'Operation' Dissected

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 9 December 2021)

                          "Organ Grinding Done Here"

A 10-person gang involved in illegal organ transplant trafficking, four 

of whom are Jordanian, Syrian and Palestinian citizens, were captured 

during a raid on the hotel where they were staying.  The gang members 

found kidney donors with the slogan 'VIP Service' that they shared on

social media. 

According to information about the gang that police have obtained,

Arab countries were targetted via social media and prospective wealthy

customers identified by blood type.  The 'VIP Service' the gang 

offered included hotel and hospital accommodations, as well as blood

tests for the patients.  Based on a positive test result, the gang collected

$50,000 from the kidney recipient, $10,000 of which was given to the

donor.  

The donor and patient were then brought to Istanbul and since the law

requires that they be close blood relatives, fake documents were 

produced as if they had been obtained from the donor-patient consulates.  

The documents were presented to the hospital, which received $15,000

for hosting the operation, leaving the remaining $25,000 for the gang.

                                                Ouch.

A Palestinian patient was given a kidney transplant at a private hospital

in Esenyurt, Istanbul, a few days ago. Those who facilitated the organ

transplant claimed to be close relatives of the patient but Turkish 

doctors opined that "the donor and the patient did not appear to be 

related.  Their dialogue was very cool, as if they didn't know each 

other."  This prompted hospital officials to call Turkish immigration

officials, who then began to examine the documents of the donor and 

the patient. 

The Palestine Consulate was asked for documentation of the relative

relationship of the donor and the patient but there was none to be 

found.  Turkish officials determined that prospective transplant 

patients stayed at a hotel near the hospital to be available for checks

from time to time.  When it was determined, as well, that gang 

members were staying at this hotel too, a raid was launched and

Jordanian Hasan abu Azid, Palestinian Ali Y.M. Shiruk, Syrian

A.M. and dialysis patient Palestian M.J.K. were apprehended. 

Based on interrogations of those apprehended, another raid was 

launched on the hotel and Palestinian H.Q.A., along with Jordanians 

A.H., N.S., M.S.V. and organ donor N.S.S. were taken into custody. 

Also seized in the raid were $21,600 in cash, 10,000 TL, a basin and 

a large number of fake documents.  

Police also arrested gang leader Jordanian Hasan Barakat, together

with 3 others, two of whom were kidney donors. Three of the 13

people taken into custody were released.  Barakat, his second-in-

command Jordanian Hasan abu Zaid, Palestinian doctor Ali 

Y.M. Shiruk and Syrian Ahmet Al Masri, who brought organ

patients and donors together, were jailed.  

"Beat & Release": Groom's Wedding Day 'Pompalı Tüfenk' Gift a Tad Inauspicious

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 8 December 2021)

The gloomy-looking bride seems to be having a premonition. 

Last Sunday, İbrahim Mendaşağu got married in the Gürpınar 

neighborhood of Istanbul's  Beylikdüzü district.  As a wedding gift, his 

friend Onur İlkan Demirkol hung a "pompalı tüfenk" (pump-action rifle), 

complete with a red ribbon, around the groom's neck.  (!)

At this point, the master of ceremonies declared "don't let the devil fill 

this time, how about some nice applause?!" Thus prompted, those in the

wedding hall erupted in applause.  Meanwhile, as the groom and his pals 

posed for pictures, the cameras also caught sight of the bride's forlorn 

visage. 

Once the pictures were posted on social media there was a storm of 

negative reactions against Mendaşağu and his cohorts.  Concurrently, 

the Bakırköy public prosecutor began an investigation and yesterday 

police took both Mendaşağu and Demirkol into custody, seizing the 

rifle, as well.  After giving statements, the two men were released.

In his statement, Mendaşağu said that "Since my wife didn't want the rifle,

I returned it to my friend."  For his part, gift-giver Demirkol noted that 

"we went to the wedding hall and gave my friend a 'pompalı tüfenk' as a 

gag gift.  I mean, instead of pinning some gold or money on him, we hung 

the rifle on him.  He didn't say anything except 'thank you'.  I don't regret 

it at all.  We got fined and the rifle was seized. We didn't think it would 

become such a topic of conversation."

Demirkol, who said he had a receipt for his purchase of the rifle, was 

fined 944 TL (about $80).  In addition, the wedding hall was found to be 

unlicensed so it was sealed shut and the owners fined 3,469 TL (about

$250).

 

                        Beylikdüzü district of Istanbul

TNT History Archives: Nearly 100 Years Later, 201 Ottoman Bodies Will R.I.P. in Greece

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 7 December 2021)

"mübadele" click here for details of the Greek-Turkish population

exchange.

201 bodies discovered in an Ottoman graveyard in the Greek village of 

Simantra (called 'Gargara' in Ottoman times) in Greece's Halkikiki

province's Nea Propontida (Yeni Bandırma) town, will be buried at noon

tomorrow in accordance with Islamic traditions in the Simantra

Municipal Cemetery.  The bodies were found during construction of a 

new sports arena.

Şeyda Güvenç Duran, an architect whose grandparents and a large portion 

of her family lived in 'Gargara' and who were resettled in Antalya along 

with another 130 families during the "mübadele" (Greek-Turkish 

population exchange) period, said that the burial decision had been 

conveyed to her by Propontida Mayor Emmanoil Karas in an official 

document. 

Duran explained that "the bodies of our ancestors were found during 

an excavation in Gargara/Sinmantra village near Salonica (Thessaloniki), 

where my grandmother was born, and brought to a museum.  They will

be properly buried in the Simantra Municipal Cemetery with Islamic

rituals, presided over by Athens Islami Mosque İmam Zaki Sidi

Muhammed.  When the bodies were first discovered the Greek 

authorities were very slow about announcing it, to our great dismay. 

Since then the bodies have been kept in a warehouse. Turkish officials

have followed the matter closely, as have we on our own.  I'm grateful

to everyone who has shown sensitivity about the issue."

In Ottoman times, about 160 Turkish families lived in Gargara/Simantra 

village on Halkidiki peninsula, 90 kilometers from Salonica.  There are

no Turks living there now.  In accordance with the Lausanne Agreement

(finalizing the Turkish-Greek war of 1918-1923), Greeks from around

Erdek (on the Sea of Marmara) and Cappadocia were resettled in the 

village.  When the 201 bodies were found during the sports area 

construction they were put into the Halkidiki-Aynaroz Ancient Treasures

Office's warehouse, without Turkey being informed.  This prompted a

diplomatic reaction from Ankara.

 

Teenagers' 1,000-KilometerJoy Ride to 'Esencılıs', Istanbul's 'Los Angeles'

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 5 December 2021)

                     Social media's young & restless.

Three teenagers in Ordu stole a car and drove all the way to Istanbul

without encountering any police checks. Their quest was to see 

"Esencılıs" (Istanbul's 'Los Angeles'), otherwise known as Esenyurt

district. 

A.T., S.Ö., and E.K., aged 12, 13 and 15, respectively, broke the glass 

and entered the car dealership owned by Bekir Eren and Cem Uygun 

on Atatürk Boulevard in Ordu's Altınordu district at about 4 in the 

morning on 28 November.  Finding the keys to the cars in a draw, the 

teenagers took a brand new car for an 8-kilometer drive and brought it 

back to the dealership.  Taking another car, the three disappeared. 

How ya gonna keep 'em down on the farm after they've seen

Esencılıs.

When the dealership owners arrived at work they called the police,

who recognized the culprits from security video because they all have

extensive police records (!), despite their young ages.  Police went to 

the youngsters' homes but their families had no idea where they were.  

Police picked up the trail of the three via camera footage at a gas station 

in Ordu, where they filled the tank, and at a breakfast café in Samsun.  

Finally, the police license plate recognition system detected the car on 

Thursday, 1 December in Istanbul - the teenagers had traversed about 

1,000 kilometers and 10 provinces en route to the big city. 

Ordu police arrived in Istanbul to assist their city colleagues and the 

youngsters were finally apprehended on 3 December after spending 

most of their time in 'Esencılıs' (Esenyurt) and brought back

to Ordu.  They explained that "we see Esenyurt on social media all

the time so we wanted to see it for ourselves."  Esenyurt's good and

bad sides are reflected in, especially, 'rap' videos and the neighborhood

has assumed the nickname 'Esencılıs', after America's Los Angeles.