türkçe links to original Turkish article
(Hürriyet Newspaper, 7 April 2026)
"What?"
Hasan Ali K. (45), who was found to have defrauded people by
introducing himself as the owner of a restaurant and baklava
company and selling the products he obtained from them on his
mobile stall, was caught red-handed in Karaman. In his statement,
the suspect said, "I don't eat 'haram' (unlawful) food, I earn honestly.
I didn't commit fraud." He was (nevertheless!) arrested.
Hasan Ali K., a street vendor in Adana's Seyhan district, called
Hamdullah Ç. (30), a dried fruit seller, and introduced himself as
the owner of a well-known baklava company. He said he would buy
3 tons of walnuts and asked him to send 10 kilograms of sample
product beforehand. Hamdullah Ç. sent the walnuts to the specified
address.
After a while, learning that Hamdullah Ç. had gone to Kastamonu
to get the walnuts, the suspect then ordered 100 kilograms of garlic
for his supposed restaurant in Istanbul. Believing this offer
as well, Hamdullah Ç. sent the garlic but did not receive payment.
Realizing he had been defrauded, Hamdullah Ç. went to the Provincial
Police Department and filed a complaint.
Hasan Ali got an early start.
Teams from the Fraud Bureau of the Public Security Branch Directorate
determined that the suspect, whose identity they had established, had
defrauded eight other people using the same method. The investigation
revealed that Hasan Ali K. was selling figs, olive oil, sunflower seeds,
walnuts, pistachios, almonds, hard candy, flatbreads, and towels
obtained from the victims at a mobile stall. Following these findings,
police launched an operation to apprehend the suspect and determined
that Hasan Ali K. had gone to Karaman. Police caught him while he
was selling towels. (!)
Hasan Ali K., who was taken to the police station, was found to have
10 previous records for fraud. In his statement, the suspect said,
"I don't eat 'haram' (unlawful) food, I earn halal (lawful) money. I pray
five times a day and fast. I didn't commit fraud as alleged." After the
proceedings, Hasan Ali K. was referred to the courthouse and
subsequently arrested by the court.