"Beat & Release": Teenage Extortionist Flees on Metrobus After Firing on Hotels, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 6 April 2024)

       Racing to get back home in time to get to school.

In the Cihangir neighborhood of Istanbul's Avcılar district at

about 4 o'clock Thursday morning, an individual demanded 

protection money from two hotels.  When he was rebuffed, he

fired on both hotels with an automatic revolver.

Police reviewed security camera footage and saw that the 

culprit had entered a nearby building, changed his clothes and

boarded the metrobus at the Cihangir-Üniversite stop, fleeing

the area. 

Both his clothes and the weapon were found in the building

the suspect entered after his attack.  Police identified the 

extortionist as E.Y. (17!)  and nabbed him, after which he was

jailed. 

 

"Beat & Release": Grandmother Gets Jail Time For Striking Granddaughter With Her "Terlik" (House Slipper), in Pamukkale

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 5 April 2025)

Don't mess with this Grandma! Armed and dangerous!

In Denizli's Pamukkale district on 9 August 2024, Asiye Vural

(18), who lives with her grandmother Asiye Kaytan (80), came

home from work and wanted to go out for the evening.  The

elder Asiye hanım, though, locked the door and wouldn't allow

her granddaughter to leave the house.  When young Asiye 

persisted, her grandmother struck her arm with her "terlik"

(slipper) so young Asilye counterattacked with a blow from

her phone to granny's head (!). 

Grandma Asiye was treated at a hospital for her head wound and

released.  Neither Asiye filed a police complaint against the other

but the public prosecutor did, asking for a jail sentence of up to

14 years (!) for the elder Asiye hanım for "restricting someone's

freedom".  At the court hearing on 24 February, Grandma Asiye

was sentenced to 2 years 6 months in jail.  

However (!), since the "attack on a family member" was 

committed with a "weapon", meaning the "terlik", the sentence

was raised to 4 years 2 months.  An appeals court is reviewing

the verdict but if it's approved then the elder Asiye hanım will

go to jail. 

Grandma Asiye lamented "I went to court and asked that my

granddaughter not be punished.  She wasn't, but I was!  And 

because my 'terlik' is considered a 'weapon' I was sentenced 

to 4 years 2 months in jail. At 80 years of age, I'll go to jail?!

How will I live there?!  I've had an operation and walk with

difficulty!  They're throwing me in jail because of  'anne

terliği' (famous in Turkey since every child has suffered such

a blow from their mother's 'terlik' at one time or another while 

growing up.)  No one should strike a child, but how was I 

supposed to know that a 'terlik' was considered a weapon?!"

As for young Asiye hanım, she opined that "I didn't file a 

complaint, but the state opened the case anyway.  Yet, don't

think a 'terlik' is harmless - don't let anyone strike a child

with one!"

"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.

"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.

"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.

"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. (!)

"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."

"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:

"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!

"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. 

"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.  (!) 

"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

"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. 

 

"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.

"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).

"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...

"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. 

"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. 

"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 (!). 

"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."