"Beat & Release": 42 Illegal Migrants Nabbed in Bitlis - Next Stop El Salvador?!

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 7 May 2025)

Cramped quarters...

Anti-smuggling police in Bitlis stopped a TIR (tractor-trailer) 

loaded with wooden palettes in the city center and nabbed 42

illegal migrant inside the truck's trailer.  They were all handed

over to Immigration Bureau officials for deportation. Two 

suspects taken into custody for facilitating human trafficking 

were jailed. 

...can get even more cramped. 

"Beat & Release": Rowdy "Cowboys" Demand Photo Money from Visitors, in Kayseri

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 7 May 2025)

                "Uncle Ali" channeling John Wayne. 

The largest herd of wild horses in Turkey can be found in 

Hürmetçi village in Hacılar district of Kayseri province.  

Visitors to the area make sure to take pictures of the horses

and one visitor, Hanifi Öztekin of Istanbul, came with his

wife, older sister and 4-year-old child last October.

The Öztekin visitors were told that they had to pay 100 

liras to take photos but Öztekin demurred and began to

leave.  However (!), their car was blocked by Ali Kemer

(56), known as "Uncle Ali", who was dressed as an American 

wild west cowboy, and three others on horseback. The

"cowboys" then began to threaten and insult Öztekin, 

beating his car with sticks.  

As Öztekin recorded the attack on his phone, his wife

called the police and the four "cowboys" were arrested but

released on judicial supervision.  Fatma Öztekin related that

"I grabbed one of their telephones and ran to the car so they

wouldn't hurt my brother.  Then the rowdies surrounded the

car on their horses."

       They need "Uncle Ali" like a hole in the head.

As for "Uncle Ali", he "explained" that "When my horse 

reared up, I dropped my phone.  If she hadn't taken my phone

I would have apologized. But that is my area, so of course I

wanted money from them to take pictures. Anyway, what

happened happened.  I'll pay the fine."

The four "cowboys" have been charged by the Kayseri 

public prosecutor , who has asked for sentences of up

to 10 years in jail.   "Uncle Ali" claimed that "we look after

176 horses, day and night.  If we don't take care of them, they

won't be able to survive." 

However (!), the Hacılar district chief stated that the "cowboys" 

merely use the horses as a backdrop for their promotional videos 

and don't take care of them.  Consequently, "Uncle Ali" was 

fined 190,000 Tl (about $5,000).  

"Fleece & Release": 13-Year-Old Thief Steals Two Policemen's Wives' Phones but Walks Free, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 4 May 2025)

B.D. getting used to "can't get arrested"

at a young age.

In Istanbul's Esenyurt district on 25 February, 13-year-old

inveterate thief B.D. and a friend stole the telephone of a 

policeman's wife (!) and then sold the phone to a willing buyer.  

Police checked surveillance video and nabbed B.D. and the 

buyer, who were both jailed. 

However (!), soon after B.D. was released and he and a friend

proceeded to steal the telephone belonging to Ü.S., also the 

wife of a policeman (!) on 8 April.   In addition, Ü.S. is the 

relative of Fethi Sekin, a policeman who was killed while 

preventing terrorists from exploding a bomb in front of the 

Izmir courthouse on 4 January.  

Istanbul police once again tracked down and arrested B.D.

But he was released by the court on judicial supervision (!). 

"Retire & Release": Ex-Governor-Turned-Treasure Hunter Nabbed at Illegal Excavation, in Mersin

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 3 May 2025)

Newly retired ex-governor dabbling in treasure hunting.

In Mersin's Gülnar district, the Gendarmerie got a tip that an

illegal excavation was underway at the historicl Mennan 

Fortress in Kalecik in Beydilli village, and as former Şirnak 

governor (!)  Hüseyin Başkaya (65)  and retired Gendarmerie 

Col. Ali Aydın (54), along with M.T., A.Ü., H.A. and E.Y., 

got in their cars to flee from the scene, they were caught 

red-handed. 

H.B. had served as a governor in Şirnak from 1999-2003 and 

handed in his retirement papers just two days ago (!).  After the

Gendarmerie received permission to arraign him he was

released, as were all the others. 

 

"Beat & Release": Complicated Love Triangle Quarrel Ends in Murder...or Suicide, in Bursa

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 2 May 2025)

Police will use triangulation techniques to solve this one.

In Bursa on the night of 27 April, Ertuğrul Karadaşlı (48) met

in Nilüfer district with Y.O. whom he had lived with for 12

years but separated from two years ago.  As the two talked,

Karadaşlı received a message on his phone from Simge İvedi

(31), with whom he had lived for the past two years.  

Seeing this message, Y.O. called Simge hanım and summoned

her to come the scene, which she did shortly thereafter.  Next,

Karadaşlı called a friend and asked him to take Y.O. to her 

home. With Y.O. now gone, Karadaşlı and Simge hanım began

to argue and (somehow!) Karadaşlı suffered a stab wound to

his chest and died. 

Simge hanım was arrested and charged with murder. However (!),

she rejected the charge  and claimed that Karadaşlı had stabbed

himself, "explaining" that "As I was heading toward my car,

Ertuğrul was coming from behind screaming and with his 

chest bared, yelling 'See what you've done to me?!'.  That's when

I saw the blood, but I had not stabbed him; he stabbed himself."

An autopsy will be performed to determine the angle of entry

of the knife so that a decision can be made as to whether it was

a murder or a suicide. 

"Seat & Release": Suicide-by-Anal Bottle Thrust Attempt, in Turgutlu

 türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 8 October 2009)

Experts say it was just a cry for help because...

In Turgutlu district of Manisa province, K.Y. (61) was brought

to a hospital by his wife N.Y. (56) last Sunday evening, and a 

mineral water bottle was extracted from his anus. He told his 

wife he intended to commit suicide with the bottle (!). 

K.Y. remained in the hospital for two days under observation

after the "extraction" and was released from the hospital the

day before yesterday.  K.Y. declined to give a statement but

his wife "explained" that "When I got back from shopping I

found my husband writhing in pain. I asked what the problem

was and he told me  'I tried to commit suicide by putting

the bottle in my anus in the morning'.  That's when I brought

him to the hospital." 

....if he'd really been serious about it...

Bottle sales in Turgutlu have been banned pending

an investigation. 

"Dive & Release": Toddler's Safe Landing in Dumpster Shocks Cat Munching Inside, in Nevşehir

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sözcü Newspaper, 29 April 2025)

      Dumpster diving Muhammed and panicked cat. 

In the Kapucubaşı neighborhood of Nevşehir, security camera 

footage captured the astonishing fall and safe landing of 

2-year-old Muhammed Nur El Muhammed into a dumpster.

The trash in the dumpster miraculously cushioned the 

toddler's fall, but a cat feasting in the dumpster was 

panicked by the youngster's surprise arrival. 

Passers-by saw the boy's fall and called police and medics

to the scene.  Muhammed's right arm was broken in the

fall, but he was otherwise OK. (Cat was too shaken to comment.)

 

"Thief & Release": Experienced Thief (Her 81st Crime), Swipes Gold Bracelet Off Store Window Mannequin, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 28 April 2025)

                 She felt naked without the bracelet. 

In Istanbul's "Kapalıçarşı" (Covered Market) on the evening

of 20 February, a jeweler  noticed that a 130-gram gold 

bracelet, worth 480,000 TL (about $12,500) was missing from 

the wrist of the mannequin  displaying it in the store window.  

The jeweler reviewed his shop's security camera footage and 

saw that the bracelet had been stolen about 24 hours earlier.

The footage showed the thief wearing a surgical mask and

glasses, while employing sleight of hand to whisk away the

bracelet in a flash.  Police determined that the thief was

Y.G. (36), who has a record of 80 (!) previous crimes, and

she was arrested in an operation conducted on 22 April. 

Don't worry, she'll be out soon and ready for number 82!

"Fleece & Release": Social Media Romeo Bilked Six Women for "Loans", in Bursa

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 28 April 2025)

                  The dashing, but slippery, Uğur T. 

In Bursa, Uğur T. (38), the father of two children, separated from

his wife 5 years ago.  In the years 2021-2024, Uğur T. entered 

into romantic relationships  via social media with beauty expert 

B.Ç. (33), finance expert Ş.C.S. (43), academician A.T. (50),  

accountant G.T. (33), and two others, identifying himself as an 

interior decorator and realtor.

After hoodwinking the women into separate relationships,

Uğur T. told them that the COVID pandemic had hurt his 

business, so he asked each of them for "loans", ultimately

obtaining 12 million TL (about $312,000) (!). Then, after 

repaying the women with a small initial amount, he broke

off each relationship.

                     Post-Uğur T. group commiseration. 

Beauty expert B.Ç., who was "with" Uğur T. for 2.5 years,

lent him 200,000 TL, anticipating marriage.  She said that

"While I was in a relationship with him, I took out credit 

lines 8 times.  This guy roams around all day, checking out

the women and choosing a victim."

Finance expert Ş.C.S. lent Uğur T. 1,200,000 TL.  She 

divorced 4 years ago and has two children, so when she

saw Uğur T.'s Instagram picture with his own daughters

she began to trust him.  

A.T. said she got to know Uğur T. in August 2024 via a 

Tinder-like app  and lent him 1,200,000 TL, too, in the

course of two months.  As for accountant G.T., she said

she lent Uğur T. 8.5 million TL. 

As for Uğur T., charged with fraud but not in jail, he

"explained" that "I was jobless because of the pandemic

so I couldn't repay their loans and got involved in crypto

money deals. I didn't defraud anyone, and I didn't promise

to marry anyone.  When I got involved with them, they 

knew I was in dire financial straits, and they lent me 

money of their own volition.  I'll pay them back, bit by

bit." (!) 

Uğur T. has high hopes for his new book...

"Beat & Release": Drunk English Boxer Pummels Taxi Driver, in Istanbul

 türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sözcü Newspaper, 27 April 2025)

         R.K. the dope in this "rope-a-dope" episode.

The incident occurred at about two o'clock in the morning last

night in the Göktürk neighborhood of Eyüpsultan district ,

Istanbul.  Taxi driver Kadir Biçer (56) picked up drunken 

English boxer R.K. at Istanbul Airport and headed to Beyoğlu 

to drop him off.   Two taxis left the airport together, but when 

the lead driver lost track of Biçer, he turned around and fouınd

him beaten and unconscious (!). 

Biçer is now in intensive care in a hospital.  Police learned 

that a fare dispute erupted between Biçer and R.K., whom 

they tracked down and jailed.  Biçer's older brother Hüseyin

Biçer related that "other taxi drivers at the airport had refused

to take R.K. because he was drunk, but my brother took him. 

Even though he's in jail, we're afraid he'll get off scot-free 

because he's a foreigner."  

"Speak & Release": Turk Forgets Turkish and Talks in Danish After Brain Blood Clot, in Konya

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 26 April 2025)

                 Rahmi bey's new nickname is "Hamlet".

After living in Denmark for 20 years, Rahmi Kandemir, the

father of 7 children, returned to Konya 10 years ago.  Last

week he had a knee operation in a Konya hospital, but two

days later a blood clot developed in one of the large veins

in the left side of his brain.  The clot was quickly remedied

and his situation began to improve. 

However (!),  Kandemir then began speaking Danish and 

could not speak his native Turkish.  Prof. Dr. Gökhan 

Özdemir, a hospital neurologist, noted that such a phenomenon

is rarely seen in medical literature.  He explained that "When

people who know a number of languages suffer a brain blood

clot or bleeding in the brain, they may forget some of the 

languages and begin to speak a language they know from the

past.  

Dr. Özdemir expects Rahmi bey will again begin to speak

Turkish.  His daughter Meral Kandemir said that "He hadn't

spoken Danish for quite some time so when he began to, we

were shocked.  He understands Turkish but cannot speak it.

Rahim bey himself  said that "there's Danish in my brain

and not a bit of Turkish." (!)

Just get a knee operation first: 

"Beat & Release": Irate Hubby Pursued and Shot Estraged Wife, But Missed - She's Fine and He's in Jail, in Amasra

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 15 April 2025)

A rare happy ending for the lady involved in such events.

Ahsen Nur Paşalı (27), the mother of two children and then

living in Ankara, filed for divorce from her husband of

7 years Okan Paşalı (30) because he beat her.  Okan bey was 

taken into custody but released on judicial supervision, 

prompting Ahsan Nur hanım to take refuge with her older

sister in Amasra district of Bartın province, 300 kilometers

from Ankara. 

Last year on 27 August, Okan bey went to Bartın with a

friend and shot at Ahsan Nur hanım walking on the sidewalk

with a "pompalı tüfenk" (pump-action rifle).  She suffered only

superficial scrapes and was released from a hospital. 

Meanwhile, Okan bey and his friend U.G.  fled to Cide 

district of Kastamonu province, where they were arrested.

                        Okan bey got the worst of it.

A criminal case was opened against the two suspects, with

a sentence of from 13 to 20 years requested.  The first 

hearing in the case occurred the day before yesterday,

with Okan bey "explaining" that "on the day of the incident

I got out of my car and asked her 'where are my children?',

to which she responded 'are you their father?' (!).  Hearing

this I grabbed the pumpalı tüfenk I keep in my car and

tried to scare her with it, firing at her feet.  I wasn't trying

to kill her and I hadn't planned any such thing."

As for Ahsen Nur hanım, she told the court that "He had

been sending me messages for a few days before the incident

and continually harassing my family.  For example, he broke

the windows at my father's workplace.  He wasn't aiming at

my feet, he aimed directly to kill me."

Hapless U.G. said that he had only come along for the ride,

with the idea of having a vacation (!).  He added that he did

not know Ahsen Nur hanım and pleaded for acquittal.  The

court ruled that Okan bey's incarceration will continue as

the trial proceeds, but that U.G. would be released on 

judicial supervision. 

"Beat & Release": Terrible Teenage Twins Fire on Nightclubs to Avenge Beating, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 23 April 2025)

                            The Terrible Twins now...

The day before yesterday at about seven-thirty in the morning

in the Taksim Square area of Beyoğlu, Istanbul, two suspects 

came on a motorcycle and fired on two nightclubs, before 

fleeing on their motorcycle.  There were no deaths or injuries

in the incident. 

Police began to investigate past events at the nightclubs for

clues to the attackers' identity and they saw that two individuals

involved in an incident there in 2024 had  fled on a motorcycle.

The individuals in the 2024 security camera footage and in the

that of the current incident resembled each other. 

Seven hours later, police apprehended twin brothers (!) Emre D.

and Rauf D. (19) and seized the gun they used in the attack.  The

suspects "explained" to police that last year when they went to

one of the nightclubs they were beaten by 18 people and thrown

out, inciting a feeling of revenge in them.  The twin brothers 

already had a police record of 4 crimes so they were jailed. 

...and then. 

"Beat & Release": Attacking Seagulls Grounded by Plastic Egg Ruse, in Croatia

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Sözcü Newspaper, 22 April 2025)

               Jonathan Livingston would be horrified. 

In Croatia's Istria region on the coast of the Adriatic Sea, seagulls

have been attacking both tourists and local residents, snatching

sandwiches, harassing cats and dogs, and creating panic.  

To address the problem, local authorities have come up with a

novel idea: switching the seagulls' real nest eggs with plastic 

ones, such that the seagulls don't realize the change and wait

in their nests for hatching that will never happen - and keeping

them out of the air. 

The plan is to substitute 2,000 plastic eggs in the seagulls'

nests this year (!). 

"Beat & Release": Winner of "Ultimate Cat Fight" Nabbed, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 20 April 2025) 

Contestants Sevil hanım and Elif hanım before match.

In Istanbul, social media phenom Elif Kırav (29) and actress

Sevil Akdağ (32)  went out for drinks together the night 

before last and then returned to the Gelincik Apartment in

the İskenderpaşa neighborhood of Fatih district, where they

continued to drink.  Toward dawn, the two got into an argument

and Sevil hanım stabbed Elif hanım multiple times in the head,

neck, chest and back, killing her.  Sevil hanım then cut her own

wrists and fled the building in a panic. (!)

A neighbor, awoken by the screaming, saw a woman in black

descending the staircase.  Later that same day, Elif hanım's 

mother came to the apartment building when she didn't hear 

from her daughter.  Entering the flat, she was confronted with

Elif hanım's dead body and called the police.

Security camera footage showed Sevil hanım leaving the 

building at 0632 hours, holding a black bag in her hand. 

Police tracked her to Esenyurt district and took her into 

custody.  In her statement, Sevil hanım had trouble

recalling details of the night but said she and Elif hanım

were close friends, yet they got into a fierce argument

toward dawn and attacked each other. Sevil hanım was

jailed. 

Ladies played this game till the wee hours...then it

got way too real.

Beat & Release: Iranian's Video Death Threat Ends Badly - for Him, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 19 April 2025)

                    Have Gun, Will Travel...Get Caught

Y.K. (45), who lives in Istanbul, contacted the police on 

5 February in regard to a threat he'd received from Iranian

A.N.  According to Y.K., he had never met A.N. but knew

that A.N. and his brother-in-law were in business together in

Iran.

In any case, A.N. called Y.K. on a video chat and demanded

15 million TL-worth of Iranian money (nearly $400,000)

brandishing a gun during the video call.  Y.K. told police

that A.N. had previously come to a cargo company in Fatih, 

Istanbul, and had persisted with the threats. 

Police investigated and determined that A.N. would fly into

Istanbul Airport at 2025 hours on 4 April.  He was nabbed

at the airport by police and jailed. 

"Beat & (Early) Release": Killer Stabs Estranged Wife - He'd Left Prison Early After Killing His Brother in 2016

türkçe links to original Turkish article

                               He's got "the look"...

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 17 April 2025)

The night before last at about eleven-thirty in Samsun's Canik 

district, Emine Akpınar (36), the mother of three children, was

returning home from shopping when she encountered her

estranged husband Emrah Akpınar (28) , a TIR (tractor-trailer) 

driver.

An argument ensued and as Emine hanım tried to escape, 

Emrah bey shot her repeatedly and fled the scene.  Police 

arrived but it was too late to save Emine hanım.  

Efforts began to track down Emrah bey.  A statement was 

taken from Ali Özcan (25), the son of  Emrah bey's sister.

Ali bey "explained" that his uncle had taken him along to

the scene of the incident, but he claimed he heard no gunshot

sounds (!).  Afterwards, according to Ali bey, he got out of

the car at Naklhyeciler Sitesi and left the car to Emrah bey. 

Ali bey was incarcerated.  It turned out that in 2016, Emrah

bey had stabbed his older brother İdris Akpınar (then 33) to 

death and was sentenced to 16 years and 8 months in jail.

However (!),  (for some unknown reason!) a few years ago

he left prison early.

"Beat & Release": Extortionist Hid from Police in Rooftop Bird Cage, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 16 April 2025)

                  Birds ratted him out to the cops. 

In Istanbul's Beykoz district at about 6 o'clock in the morning

on 22 February, homeowner Ç.B. was awakened by noise 

coming from the bedroom bathroom.  Ç.B. then saw that the

bathroom ceiling was damaged and there was a bullet casing

on the floor.  Ç.B. called police and told them he had no 

enemies that would do such a thing. 

In a statement given to the police by İ.Y., another resident at

the same address, he said that on 19 February, a telephone caller

told him that "You owe G.Ê. 600,000 Euros.  If you don't pay

up I'll shoot you in the head!"  Evidently, İ.Y. was the target

of the extortionists, who mistakenly went to Ç,.B.'s home. (!)

The police investigation intensified and on 18 March 

simultaneous early morning raids were conducted on 

addresses in Beyoğlu, Esenyurt, Eyüpsultan, Şişli and Sarıyer.

S.S. (28), HebunY. (29) and Baran A. (18), who has a police 

record of 14 crimes, were taken into custody.  One of them tried 

to hide in a bird cage (!) on the roof of a hotel in Beyoğlu but 

was nabbed.  

After processing at the police station on 21 March, S.S. was

released on judicial supervision and Hebun Y. and Baran A.

were jailed. 

From Beykoz to Beyoğlu, as the crow flies...

"Fleece & Release": Magically (!) , Gold He Bought Turned Into Silver, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 15 April 2025)

                               Actually, it's chocolate.

İhsan Y., who is involved in the wholesale jewelry business in

Kayseri, bought three kilograms of  gold from the Covered 

Bazaar in Istanbul on 7 June 2024.  İhsan Y. didn't want to 

travel with the gold back to Kayseri so he entrusted it to 

Gökhan T. and Özkan T., with whom he had worked for quite

some time. 

However (!), when İhsan Y. returned to the T's shop he noticed

there was something different in the bag he'd left the gold in.

Opening the bag, he saw that instead of gold there was silver.

The T's "suggested" that initially İhsan Y. had been given 3

kilograms of silver, rather than gold.  

İhsan Y. went back to the store where he'd purchased the 

gold and looked at security camera footage, which confirmed

that he had purchased gold there.  Next, he went back to the

T's store and asked to view their camera footage to prove that

he'd left them gold, rather than silver.  However (!), that portion 

of the footage had (somehow!) been erased eight times (!).  

This being the case, Ihsan Y. filed a police complaint against

the T's, who both denied guilt.  Nevertheless, Gökhan T. was 

sentenced to 2 years in jail and fined 14,600 TL, while Özkan

T. was sentenced to 1 year in jail and fined 10,940 TL. 

Not letting the matter end there, İhsan Y. has filed a civil suit

against the T's, asking for 500,000 TL in compensation

because his name had been besmirched in the jewelry sector

in Kayseri.  

Gökhan T.: "what?"

TNT History Archives: Indonesia's Former President Sukarno Left Turkey With an Unappreciated Souvenir (April 1959)

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Cumhuriyet Newspaper, 13 April 2025)

        All the papers are talking about it!!

On the occasion of the visit of the current Indonesian President

to Turkey, one of his predecessor's visit was recalled with red

faces:

"The date was 28 April 1959. As opposed to the current president

(Subianto), Sukarno was a rather uncouth fellow.  In any case, 

Sukarno asked for a "favor" so the Istanbul Police's Morals 

Bureau went into action and had the famous "madam" Lüks 

Nermin direct one her young and lovely "employees" to

attend to Sukarno's wish.  (!)  It is hard to fathom how this event 

was recorded in the Foreign Ministry's protocol register.

After the completion of Sukarno's official - and non-official -

activities in Turkey, he returned to Indonesia, from where he

sent a message that was anything but grateful for the 

"hospitality"  he was shown.  Sukarno related angrily that 

Lüx Nermin's "employee" had  infected him with a sexually

transmitted disease. "(!) 

                      Sukarno aimed for the stars.

"Beat & Release": Enraged Teenager Kills Estranged Girlfriend's Mom and Stabs Her, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 13 April 2025)

                                      These kids today...

In Istanbul's Esenyurt district the day before yesterday,  Hasan

Evran (17) went to the home of  his estranged girlfriend Melisa

N.G. (17) to try to make up.  When her mother Sevda G. (49)

answered the door, Evran burst in and began arguing with Sevda

hanım.  He then grabbed a hammer he came upon in the house 

and smashed it on Sevda hanım's head numerous times, killing

her. 

Evran then waited in the house for four hours (!)  until Melisa

returned from her internship at 1945 hours.  When she came

in and saw the horrific scene Evran stabbed Melisa in her neck.

There are, of course, opposite examples...

Medics arrived and found Sevda hanım's dead body.  Melisa was

taken to a hospital and her condition is not considered serious. 

Police learned Evran's home address in Bahçeşehir from his 

school teacher and nabbed him there.  The hammer he used in

the attack on Sevda hanım was found in a garbage can.