4 Nisan 2025 Cuma

"Flee & Release": Fugitive Struck by Police "Lightning" on Cable Car, in Bursa

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 4 April 2025)
















           Nice ski jacket, perfect for unheated jail cell.

Police in Bursa got word that Doğukan Yıldırım (22), a fugitive 
fleeing a 4-year jail sentence for 48 counts of theft and drug use, 
had come to the Uludağ ski resort from Balıkesir.  As Yıldırım
(whose surname means "lightning") was returning to Bursa city 
from Uludağ on the "teleferik" (cable car), police nabbed him and
took him to jail. 

Path of the lightning bolt.





3 Nisan 2025 Perşembe

"Slip & Release": Gone Fishing, He Slips on Dog Poop and Falls 5 Meters Down, in Antalya

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sabah Newspaper, 3 April 2025)




























In Anatalya, Alparslan Barış Arıcan (38) was descending 
the "falez" (cliff/sea wall) to go fishing when he slipped on
some dog poop (!) and fell five meters down.  Unable to 
make his voice heard from the depths, Arıcan called his
relative Cüney Öz, who came and then summoned rescuers.

Arriving medics determined that Arıcan's leg was broken
so they put a splint on it and raised him up with ropes on a
stretcher to safety. 

Police have a warrant out for the pooping pooch
and master.




2 Nisan 2025 Çarşamba

"Chase & Release": Cat Stranded on Utility Pole By Pursuing Dog Rescued by Citizens, in Van

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sözcü Newspaper, 2 April 2025) 














And it looks like it'll be raining cats and dogs soon.

In Van's Başkale district, a cat that fled from a dog got stranded
on a utility pole it climbed for safety because the dog wouldn't
give up the chase.  After remaining up on the pole for some 
time, passers-by noticed the cat's dilemma and chased away the
dog. 

Cat has since taken refuge in Iran.



1 Nisan 2025 Salı

"Rent & Release": Landlord Harasses Lady Tenant With "Her" Fake Online Accounts to Raise Rent, in Ankara

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 1 April 2025)















                     G.A. knows a fake when she see it.

In Ankara's Eryaman district, a young woman named G.A.
rented a home owned by V.C., who wanted to raise her rent
more than the allowed 25%.  

When G.A. balked, as of 1 March 2023 she noticed that she
began getting unwanted, sexually-explicit phone calls and
that 4 accounts in "flirting" online programs had been opened
in her name, with details of her neighborhood and friends
included. 

G.A. appealed to public prosecutor Mahmut Kaan Yüksel for 
help and he found that the culprit was (surprise!) V.C.  At the
trial on 14 January, V.C. was found guilty, but in light of his
"clean" record and "good behavior" during the trial process, 
the sentence was deferred. (!)



31 Mart 2025 Pazartesi

"Beat & Release": Rural Peyton Place - She Killed Jailed Husband's Brother, Her Lover, in Samsun

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(DHA news service website, 31 March 2025)















      Inmate brother-husband missed all the fireworks.

In Samsun's Bafra district, Mustafa Bakar (74) asserted that the
murder of his son Murat Bakar (33) could not have been solely 
committed by his daughter-in-law Şehri Bakar (23), although she 
has said she acted alone.  The elder Bakar, complaining that once 
Şehri hanım confessed the case was closed,  noted that Murat bey's
head had been split open and his shoulder broken so a man's
strength must have been involved. 

The murder occurred on 4 October 2023 in Bafra district.  
Murat bey's body, with two bullets in it,  was seen by passers-by 
who alerted the Gendarmerie.  Şehri hanım was arrested and
said that "Murat and I had a relationship since 2018.  When his
brother, my husband (!), went to prison, we started up again. But
then he told me he was going to marry another girl so I shot 
him in his car. He stumbled out and tried to flee but I caught
up to him had smashed his head with the gun."




30 Mart 2025 Pazar

"Pee & Release": Drug Suspects Paid Hospital Workers for Negative Urine Test Results, in Batman

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 30 March 2025)


























                     " It better be yours!"

In Batman, drug user suspects went to the  Batman Training 
and Research Hospital to give urine samples, but they paid
hospital workers A.T. and Ş.K. to substitute their own urine so 
the tests would turn out negative for drug traces.  (!)

However (!), when a dispute arose about the bribe money,
the hospital workers produced uncertain results that forced
the suspects to give urine samples again until they paid the
desired bribe amount.

Police launched an operation whereby they gave the suspects
marked bills to give to A.T.   When the suspect's urine test
came out negative, police searched A.T. and found the marked
bills on his person.  Hospital worker Ş.K. was also taken into
custody but released on judicial supervision, while A.T. was
jailed.  

An investigation revealed that this practice has been going on
for years.  Consequently, police are reviewing the files of 
drug suspects whose urine tests previously came out negative.

The province's borders have been updated:







29 Mart 2025 Cumartesi

"Beat & Release": Fugitive Tried to Board Plane Dressed as a Woman, in Kars

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 29 March 2025)














                         The sneakers gave it away. 

Yesterday at seven-thirty in the morning at Harakani Airport in
Kars, S.K. (23)  and "her" supposed husband H.İ. (28) intended
to board a flight to Istanbul.  At check-in, S.K. presented the ID 
card of female G.İ. (24).  

However (!), police became suspicious of the "couple"'s 
behavior and an exam revealed that S.K. is a man (!).  In
addition, police determined that S.K. is a fugitive, wanted
for six different crimes adding up to a jail sentence of 3 years,
6 months and 22 days.  He/she was then jailed. 

It turned out that H.İ., who played the role of S.K.'s "husband",
is S.K.'s brother-in-law.  He was taken into custody and charged 
with aiding and abetting a fugitive.

                                       Abra kadabra!






28 Mart 2025 Cuma

"Kidnap & Release": Rebuffed Suitor Abducts Woman But Gendarmerie Rescues Her, in Çerkezköy

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 28 March 2025)

















              Reluctant bride gets "encouragement". 

In Çerkezköy, Tekirdağ province, Vedat Akkuş (30) went to
request the hand in marriage of Sevgi T. (32) from her family.
However (!), when the family refused Vedat bey decided to
kidnap Sevgi hanım and together with his sister-in-law Seda
Akkuş blocked Sevgi hanım's path last Saturday.  Vedat bey,
with help from his older brother Mahsun Akkuş, then forced 
Sevgi hanım into his vehicle and sped off. 

Sevgi hanım's family learned of the abduction and called the
Gendarmerie, which determined that the Akkuş family had
changed vehicles at Çatalca and headed to Istanbul with Sevgi
hanım. 

In an operation conducted at Halkalı in Istanbul, Seda Akkuş
was arrested and jailed.  Next, the Gendarmerie tracked down
and apprehended Muhammet Ali Baki and Mahsun Akkuş,
who were both jailed. 

Subsequently, the Gendarmerie rescued Sevgi hanım and
nabbed Vedat bey, along with İsmail Akkuş, and brought 
them back to Çerkezköy, where they were jailed. 






27 Mart 2025 Perşembe

"Bomb & Release": Denied Upgrade, She "Jokingly" Threatened to Bomb Plane, in Kayseri

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 27 March 2025)














            Gediz hanım's motto is "Upgrade or bust!"

Gediz Solgançok (39) complained about not getting an upgrade
on a Turkish Airlines Kayseri-Istanbul flight on 15 June 2023,
declaring "we'll bomb your plane!"  Her pronouncement 
understandably created panic among the other passengers (!).
Gediz hanım was tried and a 10 year sentence was requested
by the public prosecutor.  In the end, she received a 10-month
jail term that was deferred. 

The incident occurred at Kayseri Erkilet Airport in Kocasinan
district on 15 June 2023.  Passengers for the flight to Istanbul
were boarded at 0345 hours but one of them, Gediz hanım,
said to a flight attendant: "You didn't upgrade me! We'll bomb
your plane!"  

Hearing this, some of her fellow passengers feared that a 
terror incident was in the offing, with some of them wanting
to disembark.  The pilot informed the police, who took Gediz
hanım into custody.  The flight took off 54 minutes late.

Gediz hanım was released pending trial but the public prosecutor
asked for a sentence of from 5 to 10 years for "attempted 
highjacking"

At the first trial hearing, Gediz hanım "explained" that "I was
just joking!  I only said it to the flight attendant. We had a 
laugh and I took my seat.  But 15 minutes later, the police
took me into custody. If I'd known it was a crime to say such
a thing, I wouldn't have, of course. I apologized over and over."

Ultimately, Gediz hanım was sentenced to 10 months in jail
but the sentence was deferred thanks to her "good behavior"
during the course of her trial.  (!) 



26 Mart 2025 Çarşamba

"Fleece & Release": Elderly Professor Scammed by Fake "Secret Agents", in Çanakkale

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(T24 Internet Newspaper, 3 December 2024)


















                      Police tracking of "MIT" fraudster.

The statement of ODTÜ (Middle East Technical University)
Professor Bekir Nihad Peynircioğlu (80), who lost 35 million 
TL (about $920,000) to fraudsters who told him they were 
"MIT" (Turkish National Intelligence Organization) agents, 
has come out in Çanakkale.  

Prof. Peynircioğlu related that "They recited Atatürk's "Address
to Youth" in unison and cried about it.  We were quite impressed
and believed them.  They said they were conducting an operation
so I shared all my bank account information and my "e-devlet"
(Turkey's national database) password with them.  When we
realized we'd been duped, we explained it all to my daughter,
who's a lawyer."

Prof. Peynircioğlu, the son of "ordinaryüs" (senior) Prof. A.
Hamdi Peynircioğlu, lives with his wife on Bozcaada island.
The suspects identified themselves to him as "MIT" agents
and bilked him out of 35 million TL.  In the resulting operation
ordered by the Çanakkale public prosecutor, 11 suspects  were
nabbed as they were trying to dupe another professor (!). 





















                Police sketch of "fraud in process".

In his statement Prof. Pinarcioğlu said that: "They called my 
wife's phone at about 11 o'clock and said they were MIT 
agents.  When they called again I talked with them.  They 
sent us our ID pictures and account statements from mine
and my wife's bank accounts, asserting that  "FETÖ"
(Fethullah Gülen Terror Organization) was taking money
from them. We were convinced by their recitation of Atatürk's
"Address to Youth" and their assertion that we had a patriotic
duty to comply with their instructions."

"They wanted our 'e-devlet' passwords so we gave them up. 
They said their names were 'Zafer Aktaş', 'Selami Yıldız',
 'İlyas Kayış' and 'Atalar Yıldırım'.   Mostly, we spoke with
'Selami Yıldız'.  Based on his instructions, on 5 August 2024
we delivered $409,509; on 12 August 2024 $70,000, 250,000
Euros, 74,000 English Sterling; on 6 September 2024 $174,587
to a man wearing glasses in Güzelyalı, İntepe and, lastly, Ezine.

Police determined that the "MIT" fraudsters were from Akçakale
in Şanlıurfa province and identified them as Mahmut K., his
brothers Abdülkadir K. and Kasım K., Halil E., İbrahim Halil A.
and Mehmet Y.   After a months-long investigation, 11 suspects
were nabbed in simultaneous raids in Şanlıurfa, Ankara, Istanbul
and Diyarbakır.  The aforementioned suspects were jailed and
the others were released on judicial supervision. 

Bozcaada



25 Mart 2025 Salı

"Beat & Release": Maniac Kills Neighbor for Leaving Shoes at Threshhold, in Bursa

türkçe links to original Turkish article.

(T24 Internet Newspaper, 23 March 2025)















                                        Worth a life?

In  September 2023 in the Hasanbey neighborhood of Bursa's 
Mudanya district, Hasan Şahin warned his neighbor Mustafa
Çikin living in the opposite flat about shoes left in front of his
(Çikin's) door, deeming them unsightly.  An argument ensued
but other neighbors quelled it. 

Four days later, though, as Çikin was heading to his night 
shift job at a factory on his bicycle, Şahin hit the bike with
his car, toppling Çikin.  Şahin then got out of his car and
stabbed Çikin 15 times with a  "sustalı" (switchblade) knife.
Çikin died at a hospital and Şahin turned himself in to the
police (!). 

On the other hand...

















Şahin "explained" what happened as follows: "The deceased
and I were neighbors in the same apartment building.  Since
there's no superintendent I took it upon myself to act as one
for the building.  We had argued a number of times about him
leaving shoes and other items outside his door.  He cursed me
and threw a punch but I did not file a police complaint.  On
the night of the incident I encountered him and he insulted
me again. I hit his bike with my car and when he cursed me
again I got out of my car with my knife. I don't remember
what happened after that." (!)

Speaking for her late husband, wife S.Ç countered in court:

"The suspect is lying. We recently moved into to our house.
A few days before the incident while I was in the kitchen
the doorbell rang and he and my husband argued about the
shoes left outside our door.  His son came and apologized to
us, saying 'my dad's an irritable person, just stay clear of him.'
The night of the incident my husband was going to work on
his bike and he hit him and stabbed him. Mustafa did not
deserve to die this way. I want the most severe punishment
for him."

The court sentenced Şahin to life in prison and added on 11
months  (!) for "carrying an unlicensed weapon" - the
switchblade knife. 

 











24 Mart 2025 Pazartesi

"Beat & Release": Ballet Student Attacked by Obsessed Deviant, in Ankara

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 24 March 2025)















                   Even the swings aren't safe anymore.

In Ankara, E.N.A. (19), a ballet student preparing for her tests 
at an arts conservatory, was swinging on a swing at a local 
park on 9 December when Y.E.Ç. (30), whom she had met
five months before, grabbed her neck, broke a few of her
teeth and head-butted her (!).

E.N.A.'s mother A.K. saw what was happening from her 
home's window and pursued Y.E.Ç., who threatened A.K. 
with a fruit knife.  Mother and daughter obtained a hospital
report about her bruises and filed a complaint with the 
Gendarmerie.  As the investigation continued, 3 months later
Y.E.Ç was forbidden from approaching E.N.A.

However, E.N.A. noticed that Y.E.Ç. was still following her
so she sought help on social media, relating that she felt 
trapped at home by his surveillance and unable to attend
classes.

As for Y.E.Ç., in his statement he "explained" that "when I
tried to chat with E.N.A.  and touched her ear she cursed me.
Her mother cursed at me, too!"  Nevertheless, Y.E.Ç. was
fitted with an electronic handcuff. 

Complexion problems are to blame, evidently.



23 Mart 2025 Pazar

"Fleece & Release": Fraudster Bilks Elderly Woman but Jeweler's Suspicions Jail Him, in Bursa

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 23 March 2025)















When the call came, had M.K. just said "I don't speak
Turkish." it could all have been avoided...

In Bursa's Nilüfer district on 13 March, Ali Uluğ (22), 
identifying himself as a policeman, called an elderly
woman named M.K. (75) and told her she had been caught up
in an investigation of the FETÖ (Fethullah Gülen Terror
Organization).  Consequently, she had to give all the money
and jewelry in her house to Uluğ for "safekeeping" while
the investigation continued.  

M.K. complied and delivered 104 gold pieces and foreign
currency to Uluğ at the address he specified on the phone. 
However (!), when Uluğ took the gold and the money to a 
jeweler to get cash, the jeweler became suspicious.  Police
arrived at the shop and took Uluğ into custody. 

Police then went to the neighborhood where M.K. had
surrendered the gold and money to Uluğ and obtained
camera images reflecting the exchange.  Uluğ, who 
confessed his guilt, told police where to find M.K.,
who was then reunited with her valuables.  It was only
then that M.K. realized she had been duped by Uluğ (!).

Uluğ also admitted to bilking another person in Kuşadası
out of 1 million TL (about $26,000).





22 Mart 2025 Cumartesi

"Beat & Release": Deviant "Kitchen Worker" Enters Girls' Dorm to Harass Them, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sözcü Newspaper, 22 March 2025)














                   Dorm guards asleep at the switch!

In Istanbul's Avcılar district yesterday girls experienced high
anxiety in their dormitory because deviant M.K. (29), trying
to pass himself off as a dorm "kitchen worker", entered the
dorm and pestered the girls.

When the girls screamed in protest security guards nabbed
M.K, who has a police record of 21 crimes (!), and turned
him over to the police.

The upset girls wrote to the dorm administration: "While
security sleeps we're in danger!" and staged a protest in
front of their dormitory. 

M.K. brought a friend...



21 Mart 2025 Cuma

"Fleece & Release": Retiree Seeking Electric Vehicle for MS-sufferer Wife, Duped by Internet Gang, in Adana

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 21 March 2025)

















                   "Hey boss, what do we do now??!!"

Retiree Bekir E. (58), living in Adana's Sarıçam district, wanted
to buy a three-wheel electric vehicle for his wife who suffers 
from Multiple Sclerosis (MS), so he searched the internet and
called a number he found. He then sent 30,000 TL (about $790)
to the bank account of the "seller". 

However, the "seller" told Bekir E. that the money he'd sent 
had not arrived so he asked him to send it again ...and again (!).
In total, Bekir E. sent the "seller" nearly 100,000 TL (about
$2,630).  Subsequently, when the "seller" did not answer Bekir 
E.'s phone calls he realized he had been badly duped. 

Upon Bekir E.'s complaint to police, the cyber crimes unit got
busy and determined that the culprit was S.Y., the leader of a 
gang dealing in phony internet advertisements.  It turned out
that gang member B.T. (30) had spoken with Bekir E. and that 
other gang members A.Ç. (20) and S.B. (30)  had been involved
in the money transfers.

In simultaneous raids in Adana, Mersin and Osmaniye the four
suspects were taken into custody and jailed. 





19 Mart 2025 Çarşamba

"Beat & Release": Somali Soldiers and Uzbeks Can't Play Nicely, in Isparta and Eskişehir

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sözcü Newspaper, 19 March 2025)















Isparta Governor mediates post-match peace conference.

Somali soldiers undergoing training at the General Ihsan Alper
Barracks in Isparta fought with each other after a football
match.  24 of the soldiers were injured, two of them seriously.

























***************************************************
 
türkçe  links to original Turkish article

(Sözcü Newspaper, 19 March 2025)


















You gotta play to win...or lose.

In Eskişehir's Yeni Bağlar neighborhood, six Uzbeks got into
a fight with each other over a game.  M.T. (24) grabbed a
kitchen knife and stabbed B.S. and R.S. in their midsections.
M.T. was taken into custody and the wounded were brought
to local hospitals for treatment. 



18 Mart 2025 Salı

"Beat & Release": Chauffeur Takes Boss Hostage - They'd Become Friends in Prison (!)

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 18 March 2025)















Their happier days were spent in jail.

In Maltepe, Istanbul, chauffeur İlker K. placed a secret camera
in the office of his boss Fehmi K., who discovered the device
and a fight between the two ensued (!). 

When Fehmi K. asserted that he would fire İlker K. the latter
took his boss hostage, but when police arrived İlker K. fled.
However (!), İlker K. returned and fired a gun at the door of
the workplace.  He was then taken into custody. 

It turned out that the two "K"'s (evidently not related), met 
and became friends when they were in prison together (!). 



17 Mart 2025 Pazartesi

"Beat & Release": Did Santa's Reindeer Make Off With His Roof?!, in Antalya

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 17 March 2025)















                      "Rudolph! Where's my roof?!"

Thirty years ago a protective roof system was installed on top
of the St. Nicholas (a.k.a. Santa Claus) Church in Demre,
Antalya, to fend off the sun's rays and rain. 

However (!), Demre Museum Director Nilüfer Sezgin has
been accused of  having the protective roof system's gear 
transferred to her own villa construction site.  Nilüfer hanım
was hastily removed from her museum director position. 

She "explained" to Hürriyet that "I purchased a 3.5 "dönüm"
(about 1 acre) plot of land from the Demre village chief and 
about a quarter of it was located in a protected nature zone.
I started to have a home built there. Some people are out to
get me and they spread this slander about me."  
















She can expect coal in her stocking next Christmas.

"As for what happened to the church's roof gear, I asked 
government officials that same question and was told the 
"Makina-Kimya" (a quasi-governmental arms production firm) 
took two trucks-worth of metal and the other gear I sent to the 
Ksanthos Ören Site (an ancient ruins site near Demre)."

"During court proceedings, I will prove that the material I have
is not from Santa Claus (!).  I've been in this profession for 
33 years in many places in Turkey.  This is a horrible situation for 
me."






16 Mart 2025 Pazar

"Revenge & Release": Relentless Killer Who Murdered His 3 Cousins to Avenge Brother's Death, Nabbed in Izmir

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 15 March 2025)















            Every family has its misunderstandings...

In Izmir's Konak district on 10 March, when police stopped
a suspicious person for an ID check the individual's tense
behavior and conflicting statements led police to investigate
further.  They found that "Haydar Ülger" was using a fake ID
in that name and was actually Kemal Aramağan (43), wanted 
for murder by Interpol (!). 

It turned out that Armağan, who was a member of the "Bombers"
gang in England, had killed Behzat Eren in Kahramanmaraş-
Elbistan in 2015.  In 2020, when Hüseyin Eren came from 
England for a vacation in Kahramanmaraş, Armağan killed him,
too.  And in 2024, Armağan killed İzzet Eren, the leader of the
London "Tottenham Boys" gang in (of all places!) Chisinau,
Moldova.

Armağan had taken revenge on the three Eren brothers, his
cousins (!) for murdering his brother in 2012. 

Killer earned "A" for effort in finding Chisinau.






15 Mart 2025 Cumartesi

"Beat & Release": Parking Dispute Leaves Shopowner "Bob" With Broken Leg, in Erzurum

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 15 March 2025)














"Bob" needs to make his parking sign more threatening.

In Yakutiye district of Erzurum on 6 March ,Ahmet Taştan (44)
(also known as "Bob") noticed a car parked in front of his store.  
He waited in vain until evening for the car's owner to come and 
then called the phone number he saw on the car's windshield, 
intending to ask the owner to move his car so store supplies could 
be unloaded. 

The phone call devolved into an argument and when the
car's owner showed up with some friends, the rancor heated
up,  but passers-by intervened to quell the dispute for the 
moment. 



























However (!), after the evening Ramazan "iftar" meal, the
car's owner called Taştan and summoned him to the scene
of the earlier dispute.  As soon as Taştan got out of his car,
though, he was attacked from behind by a friend of the 
problematic car's owner and then beaten badly by the 
group.  Taştan's knee ligament was torn and one leg
broken.  He was taken to a hospital for treatment and filed
a police complaint against his assailants.