30 Nisan 2024 Salı

"Crash & (No) Release": Drug Addict Drove Tractor-Trailer on Deadly Rampage, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 30 April 2024)














Killer and murder weapon.  TIR's "Maşallah" feature, 
meant to ward off the evil eye, was evidently out of order.

On 20 October 2023 in Istanbul's Sancaktepe district, Sezgin Açık (23),
hooked on drugs, boarded a TIR (tractor-trailer) at his father's company
in Paşaköy.  He phoned his parents and asked them to come get him. 
However, when the father, İbrahim Halil Açık, arrived and tried to apply
the emergency brake his son resisted aggressively, speeding away and
hitting his parent's car in the process. 

İbrahim bey alerted the police and six of them, including Lütfü Baykar
(53) of the Maltepe police group, tried to stop the rampaging TIR driven
by Sezgin Açık.  The police were hit by the TIR, resulting in Baykar's
death and injuries sustained by other policemen.  As Sezgin Açık 
continued his TIR rampage, other policemen shot out the tires but to
no avail, as the TIR hit four more cars and a taxi.  Finally, after hitting
three more cars in Ataşehir, Sezgin Açık's terror drive ended and he
was jailed.  

The public prosecutor has asked for a sentence of from 17 to 39.5 years
for Sezgin Açık. 




29 Nisan 2024 Pazartesi

"Crash & Release": Sea Taxi Hits Canoe, Propeller Nearly Severs Canoe Rider's Foot, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 29 April 2024) 














       An idyllic scene.  What could possibly go wrong?

In the waters of the Sea of Marmara off Kalamış in Istanbul the day 
before yesterday, a sea taxi hit a canoe and the two women in it fell
into the water.  The sea taxi's propeller nearly severed the left foot of
Neşe Yılmaz (50).  A sailboat nearby rescued the two women from the
sea, after which DAK-SAR (water rescue) teams arrived. 

Neşe hanım had swallowed sea water so she was put in intensive care
and a tube inserted in her throat to allow her to breathe.  Meanwhile, 
her dangling foot was stitched in place (!).  Neşe hanım remains in 
intensive care. 

The other woman who fell into the water from the canoe was Iranian
Rozita Einisarghin, who was taken to Göztepe Training and Research
Hospital, where her treatment in the brain surgery ward continues. 
Rozita hanım's condition is said to be good. 

The captain of the sea taxi, Ahmek Özkan, was taken into police 
custody. 






28 Nisan 2024 Pazar

"Beat & Release": Pakistani Bought Turkish Citizenship for $400K - Now He's in a Turkish Jail

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 28 April 2024)














                                   "Citizen"'s arrest.

As Pakistani Faisal Abdullah was driving along in Istanbul's Bahçelievler
district he secretly took a video of a woman dancing in her home and 
posted the video on social media.   Many people reacted negatively to the
posting and one wrote "you'll go back to your own country!".  In response,
Abdullah haughtily said "Who are you to talk to me in such a way?!  I
made a $400,000 investment in Turkey and got Turkish citizenship! Go
to hell!"  

However (!), police began an investigation and quickly determined 
Abdullah's address in the Esenyurt section of the city, where he was
taken into custody for "invading personal privacy and acquiring personal
information inappropriately."  Abdullah was ordered jailed by the 
Bakırköy court.  

You're not in Karachi anymore Abdullah...



26 Nisan 2024 Cuma

"Beat & Release": Bully's Father Attacks Teacher After She Warned the Bully, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 26 April 2024)














              Like father, like son...and vice versa.

N.Ö., a female teacher at Prof. Dr. Ali Kemal Yiğitoğlu Middle School
in Sarıyer district of Istanbul, admonished a student for bullying a
classmate.  The bully threatened N.Ö., saying "you're going to learn
how to behave toward me!" and summoned his father A.Ç. to the 
school.  A.Ç. arrived and attacked N.Ö. with punches and kicks,
resulting in N.Ö. being taken to a hospital for treatment. (!) 

Messages of support for N.Ö. posted on social media included ones
from the National Education Minister and the Ministry's Istanbul
provincial office.  Istanbul police issued the following statement
in connection with the attack: "Fugitive suspect A.Ç. was arrested
soon after the incident, charged in the attack, and jailed."





25 Nisan 2024 Perşembe

"Shave & Release": Bald Man Demanded Discount from Barber, Shot Up the Shop, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 25 April 2024)
























    "Half the work, half the price!"

In Istanbul's Beyoğlu district on 5 April, Mustafa D. went to a barber 
shop to get a haircut and a shave.  Upon completion, Mustafa D. asked
barber Hikmet Zengin how much he owed him.  When Zengin replied
"150 TL" (about $4.60) Mustafa D. objected and asked for a discount.
Zengin complied and lowered the charge to 120 TL.  Still unsatisfied,
Mustafa D. gave Zengin 100 TL. (!)

A vociferous argument ensued and Mustafa D. left the shop in a huff.
However (!), a while later Mustafa D. returned with a gun and rained
down bullets on the barbershop.  No one was killed or injured though.
Mustafa D. was arrested and jailed. 

Seniors get discounts, why not baldies!?






24 Nisan 2024 Çarşamba

"Neck & Release": Teenagers Necking on Park Bench Spark Local Resident's Ire, in Konya

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 24 April 2024)














A.A. protested, saying "there was no 'no necking' sign!!

In Konya's Selçuklu district at about two-thirty in the afternoon on 4 
April, high school student A.A. (17) and his girlfriend A.G. (17) were
sitting on a park bench when Ahmet Aydın (61) approached them and
shouted "you've soiled this neighborhood's honor!".  Aydın then 
attacked A.A. with a hedge-clipper, wounding him in his chest. A.A.
stayed in a hospital's intensive care unit for two days before being
released. 

A.A.'s family filed a complaint with police and Aydın was taken into
custody.  In his statement Aydın "explained" that "they were behaving 
inappropriately so I warned them and the boy cursed at me.  I don't
know how he was wounded (!).  I don't even know the fellow.  I only
acted to warn them."  Nevertheless, Aydın was jailed. 

As for A.A., he said that "a stranger came from behind and said 'you've
soiled this neighborhood's honor!".  He cursed at us and attacked me
two or three times with a hedge-clipper.  My psychology is in tatters."

Adding insult to injury, after the incident A.A. and A.G. broke up. (!)

Subsequently, city officials posted "Neck at Your Own Risk" 
signs in parks.






23 Nisan 2024 Salı

"Stab & Flee": Kazakh Woman Kills Hospitable Host in Istanbul and Absconds to Moscow

türkçe  links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 23 April 2024) 

another absconding click here for the story of a woman who
spirited her son out of Turkey to America after he killed a 
young man in a vehicle collision.  They're not expected back
anytime soon...














                       No good deed goes unpunished.

Kazakhstan citizen Nurali Tamarov purchased goods to sell abroad from
İrfan Kapsızlar (56), who works in the leather and furs sector.  When she
found herself without a place to stay in Istanbul Kapsızlar took her in as
a guest in his home in the Küçükçekmece district of the city.  Although 
he is the father of three children, Kapsızlar was living alone.

Tamarov, who stayed in Kapsızlar's flat for about 10 days, came to his flat 
on the night of 16 April and attacked him with a knife, leaving him in a 
pool of blood.  She then packed her suitcase, went to the airport and flew
to Moscow, from where she phoned a friend in Istanbul and confessed to
killing Kapsızlar. 

Tamarov's friend informed Kapsızlar's relatives of the situation and the
police entered the flat with the aid of a locksmith, finding Kapsızlar's 
body.  A friend of his family, Erdinç Gündoğdu said that "he was killed
in a monstrous way, with stab wounds in his chest and arms.  His face
was unrecognizable.  We want the killer brought back to Turkey to face
justice."

Police say Tamarov looks sort of like this woman, wearing
Kapsızlar-brand furs.



22 Nisan 2024 Pazartesi

"Spray & Release": Turkey's Perfume (!) Black Market Still Flourishing With Brand Name Knock-offs

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 22 April 2024)

turks' perfume obsession click here for previous TNT reporting
on this fascinating subject.

            The best-smelling police officer on the force. 

Within the scope of an investigation launched by the Gaziosmanpaşa,
Istanbul, public prosecutor, a raid was made on a warehouse where
thousands of bottles of fake perfume (!) in luxury-brand bottles were
seized and two suspects were taken into custody. 

In the raid 64,000 bottles of fake perfume, worth 30 million TL 
(about $925,000), along with 104,250 brand labels and 39,370
empty bottles were seized.  The fake perfume was sold both abroad
and in Turkey.  Police processing of the two suspects involved is
continuing. 

Know your perfume! Hard to imagine Turks need so much
perfume, real or fake, but in any event...



"Click & Release": Deviant, Albeit Wheelchair-bound, Plants Secret Camera in Women's Bathroom, in Bandırma

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 22 April 2024)
























Handicapped?! Who's handicapped??!!

Workers cleaning the women's bathroom at the Bandırma Training and 
Research Hospital in Balıkesir province found a bag containing a secret
camera.  Police were called and after reviewing security camera footage
they saw that  wheelchair-bound (!) Tarık Özkan (40) had entered the 
women's bathroom. 

A search of Özkan's home yielded images from the secret camera on his
computer.  Özkan confessed and told police he's been taking such pictures
for 3-4 years (!).  At one time he was caught taking pictures of women on
the mass transit system and in other public places. After processing Özkan
was jailed.  

Is no place sacred!?
 

21 Nisan 2024 Pazar

"Ink & (No) Release": Police "Go Ballistic" and Nab 6 Tattoo'ed Muggers, in Diyarbakır

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 21 April 2024)














 As you may/may not have wanted, your tattoos got noticed.

Diyarbakır police investigated muggings in the Bağlar, Kayapınar, Sur
and Yenişehir neighborhoods of the city and had the victims view 
images from KGYS (City Security Assurance System) cameras.  One
of the perpetrators had a tattoo of a skull on his arm and this led police
to scan photo archives of arrestees with tattoos. 

As a result, the addresses of criminals H.O., A.A., A.G., R.Ç., Ş.O. and
M.Y., all of whom have skull tattoos on their arms, were isolated and the
police launched a coordinated raid - "Operation Balistik" (!) - on all the 
addresses.  The six suspects were taken into custody, charged in the 
muggings and jailed. 





20 Nisan 2024 Cumartesi

"Fake & Release": Teacher Poses as Gendarmerie Soldier and Checks ID's, in Karadeniz Ereğli

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Gazete duvaR  website, 19 April 2024)














       Her real reason: "Guys love a woman in uniform". 

In Zonguldak province's Ereğli district a woman named M.K. (24),
dressed in the uniform of a Gendarmerie soldier (!), entered a business 
area on Müftü Mahallesi Meydanbaşı Avenue and began checking
the ID's of shop owners. M.K. then proceeded to Uzunkum Avenue
and began checking the ID's of young people at cafés there, saying
she was conducting a  "GBT" (genel bilgi toplama/general ID check). 

However (!), someone became suspicious of M.K.'s behavior and 
called the police, who came and demanded to see M.K.'s military ID.
When she couldn't produce the ID police interrogated her and found
out that she is, in fact, a part-time teacher. (!)

M.K. was taken into custody after which she "explained" to police that
"I always wanted to be a soldier so that's why I did this. But now I 
regret having done it."  After processing at the police station, M.K.
was released. 






19 Nisan 2024 Cuma

"Beat & Release": Taxi Driver Rescues Stabbing Victim at 3 in the Morning, in Kadıköy

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 19 April 2024) 














   3 o'clock in the morning - I'd turn back if I were you.

In Kadıköy, Istanbul, yesterday at about 3 o'clock in the morning, Ali 
Rıza Ocak, suffering from 8 stab wounds, was rescued by a passing 
taxi driver and brought to a hospital.  Ocak had been walking in the
Osmanağa neighborhood when unknown individuals attacked and 
stabbed him eight times. 

Taxi driver Ferit Karadağ happened to be passing by and noticed Ocak
struggling to walk so he put him in his taxi and brought him to a nearby
hospital, where Ocak was operated on.  

Karadağ explained that "I was on my way to Moda and I saw this 
fellow trying to get a ride, but without success.  He then appealed to
me and, seeing that he was bleeding heavily, I took him to a hospital.
Along the way I kept talking to him to keep him from passing out."

Karadağ then returned to the place where he picked up Ocak in order
to help the police, who had arrived on the scene.  Karadağ learned that
Ocak's condition was critical. 

Hero Karadağ on duty...




18 Nisan 2024 Perşembe

"Beat & Release": Migrants Working Illegally in Turkey Raise Profiles and Get PNG'd

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 18 April 2024) 














For M.A., an exception to the rule "there's no such thing
as bad publicity." 

Kardelen Bark (26), a reporter for the DHA news agency, went  from 
Fethiye to visit her family in Adana during the recent Ramazan holiday.  
However (!) while on the Metro Turizm bus en route to Adana Kardelen 
hanım was sexually harassed by bus attendant M.A. (16), a foreigner.

Unfortunately for M.A., Kardelen hanım recorded his unwanted advances
and forwarded the video to her boyfriend N.D. who complained to Metro
Turizm.  Another bus attendant, E.Ö., then approached Kardelen hanım
and in Antalya, where the bus made a rest stop, she complained to police,
who apprehended M.A. and expelled him from Turkey. 

Metro Turizm denied employing foreigners like M.A. but the firm must 
now respond to Kardelen hanım's lawsuit.  



















****************************************************

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 18 April 2024)















                 "Other duties as assigned" (NOT!) 

In Istanbul's Beyoğlu district, the sight of restaurant chef Yusuf J.
serving diners wearing a (Turkish) soldier's uniform (!) created a 
furious reaction on social media, with one person commenting: "how 
dare someone don a (Turkish) soldier's uniform to serve diners at a 
luxury restaurant in Istanbul owned by a foreigner!" 

Prompted by the storm on social media, the public prosecutor began
an investigation and took restaurant owner A.K., manager A.G.
and chef Yusuf J. into custody.  In addition, illegal migrants M.I.,
A.R. and H.M.Y.A., who were found to be working at the restaurant, 
were nabbed and measures initiated for their expulsion from Turkey.
The restaurant's license to operate was voided, as well. 





17 Nisan 2024 Çarşamba

"Beat & Release": Innocent Victim of a Bizarre Chain of Events, in Mersin

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 17 April 2024) 














      The Angel of Death works in very mysterious ways. 

On the evening of 6 April in Mersin, after finishing a transport job Ahmet
Karatepe (28) learned that his grandmother Fatma Karatepe in Adana had
spilled boiling water on her leg so he hopped on his motorcycle to go see
her.

However (!), as Karatepe approached Fatma hanım's home in Adana's
Seyhan district he passed a taxi stand on Akif Ersoy Avenue and was hit
in his back by a bullet fired by two individuals on motorcycles.  As 
Karatepe fell to the ground, the two shooters rained down bullets on
the taxi stand and fled. 

Karatepe passed away at a nearby hospital.  As for the attackers, police
determined their identities as İbrahim Efe K. and Aydın T.  It turned out
that earlier that same day at around noon a car had hit the two motorcycles,
prompting İbrahim Efe K. and Aydın T. to beat the car's driver.  The
nearby (and chivalrous) taxi drivers objected to the two beating a man
in front of his wife and pummeled them. 

For revenge, İbrahim Efe K. and Aydın T. executed the armed attack on
the taxi stand but hit the passing Karatepe by accident.  His father Erdal
Karatepe lamented that "if the bullets hadn't hit my son they would have
hit someone else.  He was a fine fellow and everyone liked him very 
much.  We hoped to have him get married and have been preparing a 
dowry for his prospective bride but instead, I'm putting him in a grave
at a young age.  I want the suspects to be caught as soon as possible."







15 Nisan 2024 Pazartesi

"Cheat & Release": Wife's Boyfriend Hired Hitman to Kill Her Husband for His Family's Money - It's Complicated, in Izmir

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 15 April 2024)














                                    Three's a crowd.

On the first day of the recent Ramazan holiday, Mehmet Akgül (49) was
found dead at the wheel of his truck in İzmir's Bayraklı district.  It 
turned out that Akgül's wife Anıl Akgül (42) had her boyfriend Rojhat
Kızılban (35) hire hitman Gültekin Uslu (45) for 500,000 TL (about
$15,500) to kill her husband. (!)

The day before yesterday Kızılban and Uslu were arrested, while Anıl
hanım was released on judicial supervision.  However, after renewed
investigations, Anıl hanım was incarcerated yesterday. 

Mehmet Akgül's bereaved older brother Hasan Akgül related that they
are 10 siblings, 4 of whom are women.  Five of the siblings worked in
England for 33 years and they sent their earnings to Mehmet bey for
him to manage on their behalf.  

Continuing, Hasan bey said "that woman, supposedly his wife, found 
herself a boyfriend and they began living together, even adopting a dog.  
She has been with this guy since 2018, telling  my brother that she was
'going to visit my parents' in order to cover her tracks."

Twenty days ago, Mehmet bey realized he was being duped and agreed
with Anıl hanım for a divorce.  He told her, though, that he would send
his siblings all of their money, seemingly prompting Anıl hanım to 
hatch the murder-for-hire plot in order to preserve the money for herself
and Kızılban.

  


14 Nisan 2024 Pazar

"Beat & Release": Return of "Rocky" and "Rambo", in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 14 April 2024) 














                                " Rocky"'s latest victim.

In Pendik, Istanbul, at 2 o'clock in the morning on the night of 11 April
Engin Karanlık, a former boxer, came home with his live-in girlfriend
Selda Uzan and a friend named İkrami Güler (60) for a nightcap.  When
Karanlık took a bathroom break he claimed he overheard Güler speaking
in an importune manner to Selda hanım. 

An argument ensued and Karanlık pummeled Güler with punches, leaving
the latter unconscious.  Karanlık and Selda hanım then took the dazed 
Güler to a nearby cemetery and dumped him there.  Subsequently,
visitors to the cemetery noticed Güler's lifeless body and informed police,
who determined that Güler was dead.  Investigating further, the police
took Karanlık and Selda hanım into custody. 

Local resident Fatih Aydin stated "I heard sounds of a fight at about
two in the morning and thought a woman was having a nervous 
breakdown.  Then the noise stopped.  Evidently, the boxer had beaten 
and killed a guy.  I didn't hear anything else."

Still an inspiration...for better or worse.















---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 14 April 2024) 

























"Rambo" directing traffic after heroics.

In Şişli, Istanbul, at about five-thirty on the evening before last,
a Russian woman parked her rented electric car in front of her
home.  An individual following the woman noticed that the key
was in the ignition so he hopped in and stole the car.  The women, 
together with her husband, pursued the thief on their
motorcycle and succeeded in cutting him off.   The thief then 
brandished a knife at the woman.  

However (!), sitting at a café on the sidewalk was Ferhat Yılmaz, 
who played the character "Rambo Berk" in the TV show "Yılan 
Hikayesi".  Yılmaz saw what was happening and opened the passenger 
side door of the car to intervene against the thief.  With the help of 
other passers-by, the thief was detained and Yılmaz tied his hands 
behind his back to await the police. 

Turkish sequel in the offing?...




13 Nisan 2024 Cumartesi

"Beat & Release": Three Recidivist Criminals With a Combined Record of 75 Crimes Were Free to Kill Again, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 13 April 2024)














                                    They'll be back...

On 5 April in Istanbul's Sancaktepe district, Mesut Aras was fired upon
and killed by individuals as he alighted from his car.  At the scene, police
found eleven 9-millimeter bullet casings and reviewed camera footage.
They subsequently discovered the torched car used in the attack in the 
city's Eyüpsultan district and found a 7.62-millimeter bullet casing in
the car.  

Police were then able to determine the identities and addresses of the
persons suspected of perpetrating the attack on Aras and in an operation
nabbed Yasin Tolga T. (25), who has a police record of 10 crimes, Emre
B. (24), 28 crimes, and Cem Ö., 37 crimes (!).   The attackers "explained"
that they killed Aras because of an ongoing enmity with him.  All three
were jailed. 

See you next time!



12 Nisan 2024 Cuma

Instagram Gun Video Tragedy: Uzbek Kills Uzbek, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 12 April 2024)














 What happens when guns inspire Instagram videos...

In Istanbul's Fatih district, last Tuesday evening Uzbek Sardor 
Gabbarov wanted to make a video clip for Instagram with his
revolver.  He took the cartridge clip out of the gun and placed it on the
table.  His friend Ubaydullo Rakhmatılloev (23), also from Uzbekistan,
picked up the revolver, pulled the trigger and the fired bullet entered 
Gabbarov's head, killing him. (!) 

In his statement to police, Rakhmatılloev said "Sardor and I had
'iftar' (evening meal during Ramazan) in our room.  After eating he 
took out the gun from a closet drawer, saying he wanted to video a
story for his Instagram account.  Out of curiosity, I picked up the gun,
which I thought was unloaded.  I mistakenly pulled the trigger and 
shot Sardor.  It was an accident. There was no enmity between us."

Rakhmatılloev's lawyer Oktay Süleyman Öztürk told the prosecutor
that "he mistakenly pulled the trigger. There was no intention to shoot."
Nevertheless, his client was charged with "intentional murder" and 
taken to jail. 

The lure of Instagram "fame"...




  

10 Nisan 2024 Çarşamba

"Rich & (Too) Related": Dynastic Inheritance Family Feud - The Stuff of TV "Dizis", in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 10 April 2024)

another rich family's crisis click here for an Istanbul family's
inheritance woes.















                          The script writes itself.

According to a lawsuit filed in an Istanbul court, Hanım Koçarslan,
whose late husband Hasan Fikri Koçarslan was a member of the Tuncelili 
Şavak Tribe and a coal mine magnate, has five children from that
marriage: famous club manager Mehmet Koçarslan, daughters Melahat,
Zülfiye and Nihat, and another son named İbrahim.  













   

                                      Leading men.

When Hasan Fikri Koçarslan died 11 years ago İbrahim began caring for
his ailing mother.  Meanwhile, Melahat and Nihat were living in America
and Zülfiye was living in Bodrum.  As for Mehmet, he hasn't spoken to 
him mother in 30 years. (!) 

Hanım Koçarslan owns  a 75-acre plot of land in Istanbul; a flat in the 
city's fashionable Etiler neighborhood; two villas in Levent, a 15-acre
plot of land in Kireçburnu with a view of the Bosphorus; large land
holdings in Eyüpsultan and real estate in Sivas in Anatolia.  In addition,
Hanım Koçarslan was paid nearly 74 million liras (about $2,290,000)
when some of her land was expropriated by the state. 

Now, son İbrahim wants to be appointed by the court to control his 
mother's holding.  However (!), his older brother Mehmet wants Pelin
Koçarslan, a relative of the family and a lawyer, to be his mother's
executor.  

The court has ruled in favor of Mehmet and made Pelin the temporary 
executor for Hanım Koçarslan's wealth and property. 




."Whoops! & Retreat": State Theater Director Wrongly Blames City for Shabby Building His Own Ministry Owns, in Antalya

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Cumhuriyet Newspaper, 30 March 2024)













Karadağlı pointing the finger...unknowingly in the mirror.


Tamer Karadağlı, the Director of State Theaters,  took a look at the 
shabby condition of the Haşim İşcan Cultural Center that is used jointly
by the Antalya  State Opera and Ballet Company, as well as by the 
Antalya State Theater Company, and declared "Doesn't the (Antalya)
municipality see this?! It's a disgrace!"  This statement by Karadağlı
was made on the eve of the 31 March municipal elections throughout
Turkey. 

However (!), Antalya Mayor Muhittin Böcek (and candidate for 
reelection from the opposition CHP party) was quick to point out that 
the care, repair and maintenance of the building in question is the 
responsibility of the Federal Ministry of Culture and Tourism, 
Karadağlı's boss (!).  In this regard, Böcek said that "rather than 
making misleading political propaganda, had this fellow been doing 
his own job properly he would have known what the true situation 
was."

Böcek added: "On the eve of the election, when such propaganda 
statements are banned by the Federal Elections Commission, he's
trying to cast aspersions on the Antalya municipality.  We'd be happy
to show him our municipal theaters and facilities so he can see how 
much importance the municipality gives to the arts.  But by coming to
Antalya and making misleading videos like this he's just after some
cheap political gains."

He gained fame as the obnoxious blowhard in this "Married
With Children" spinoff.  Seems he wasn't acting...






9 Nisan 2024 Salı

"Beat & Release": Another Bizarre Small Town Murder and Suicide, This Time in Mersin

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 9 April 2024)















But these villages look so peaceful and happy from afar...

In Mersin's Erdemli district on 5 April, neighbors of Neşet Kaya saw that
his house was on fire so they called firefighters and the Gendarmerie. 
Once the fire was put out authorities found the burned bodies of Kaya's 
wife Nurgül and their son Emrullah (11).  Half an hour later the body of
Neşet Kaya himself was found in his burned automobile 5 kilometers 
away on the İlemin-Erdimli road. 

It turned out that the Kaya family's neighbor Halil Evcibağ (35) had first
used ether to neutralize Neşet Kaya and then entered the house to kill
Nurgül hanım and Emrullah, stealing some jewelry in the process. Evcibağ
next put the unconscious Neşet in the victim's car, drove 5 kilometers away
and set the car on fire, killing Neşet Kaya.  Evidently, Evcibağ's plan was
to make it look like Neşet had killed his own family and then committed
suicide. 

In the aftermath of the incident, Nurgül hanım's jewelry, worth about 
800,000 TL (about $25,000), could not be found..  But a citizen who 
heard about the incident contacted the Gendermerie, saying that on the
day of the incident Evcibağ had pawned a 22-carat, 67 gram gold bracelet
The citizen guessed, rightly, that the jewelry belonged to the late Nurgül
hanım and he gave it to the Gendarmerie.  

As for Evcibağ, he was arrested and thrown in the Mersin E-type prison.
However (!), Evcibağ ripped up his clothes and hung himself in his cell.