Whoops! A Bit Too Generous

generous links to original article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 7 December 2011)

Following the incident where the Sudemir family of Batman gave a pillow
filled with 12,000TL worth of gold to an aid convoy for Van (following
the recent earthquake there), the Boduroğlu family of Ankara has become
a victim of absentmindedness.

The Boduroğlu family had sewn gold into a sweater to hide it from thieves
when they went on vacation. But forgetting about it, they sent the sweater
to the earthquake victims in Van and realized the mistake a month later.
Father Ahmet Boduroğlu is retired from the state railroad company and
his son Korhan works as a lighting technician at the state theater. They
gathered up unused winter clothing and gave it to the state theater's
aid drive for the earthquake victims.

Ahmet Boduroğlu explained the dilemma: 'We had sewn a red bag
containing seven gold bracelets into the underarm of the sweater. While
we weren't at home Korhan gave all the unused sweaters away without
realizing this. When he became aware of it he tried to find out where
the aid had been sent. The state theater told us that like all the other
aid it had been sent to the Van state theater company, from where it
went to needy villagers. These bracelets were to be presents to our
unmarried children for their weddings. Everything has been lost.'

Superman, Spiderman, Batman...and Vatman!

vatman links to original article

(Sabah Newspaper, 5 December 2011)

A suit has been filed in connection with a fight that broke out between the
vatman (tram conductor) and two passengers he closed the doors on while
they were trying to board the tram in Beyazit (Istanbul).

According to the statement regarding the suit, which was opened based
on complaints from both sides, as passengers were trying to board the tram
during rush hour on 20 May 2011, vatman Necmi Yıldız closed the doors.
Two passengers, Salih Alkan and Aytaç Yavuzcan, got their feet caught
between the doors and were slightly injured.

Alkan and Yavucan then went to the conductor's cabin and cursed at
vatman Yıldız. Both sides filed complaints about each other. The
prosecutor filed charges against vatman Yıldız for 'causing the injury
of more than one person through negligence' and asked for a sentence
of between 6 months and two years. Alkan and Yavuzcan were charged
with 'publicly insultıng', which carries a sentence of between 4 months
and two years.

So Much for History...Ancient Bridge Trashed

bridge links to original article

(Sabah Newspaper, 1 December 2011)

Officials have gone into action after a new concrete bridge was built in Kars
at the request of villagers who wanted it instead of the ancient one already
in place. Upon the initiative of art historian Dr. Ali Murat Aktemur, the
Kars Council for the Protection of Culture and Nature has started an
inquiry about the incident.

A scandal has been generated in Taşköprü, a village of 200 people, tied
to Arpaçay district in Kars province. Village chief Bahri Daşdemir took
note of the complaints of villagers to the effect that the historic bridge
built by Urartu King Sarduri the Second in 739 B.C. did not meet their
needs. So two years ago Daşdemir had the ancient bridge destroyed. In
2009, prior to local elections, Daşdemir applied to the district chief of
Arpaçay and the district chief had a concrete bridged built in place of
the ancient one.

A short while ago, Dr. Ali Murat Aktemur went to the village to do
research about the Urartus but when he learned that the bridge had
been destroyed he went into shock. The director of the Kars Council
for the Protection of Culture and Nature, Hüsnü Genç, said that
'we will start administrative actions concerning those responsible
for destroying the old bridge and building the new one.'

Imam's Flock Help Locate His Stolen Car

imam links to original article

(Sabah Newspaper, 3 December 2011)

In Istanbul's Sultanbeyli neighborhood, Imam M.Ş. parked his car with the
key in it in front of his mosque and it was stolen. M.Ş. alerted the police
and during his evening sermon he told his followers that his car had been
stolen and that any kind of theft is a sin.

After the service someone came up to M.Ş. and indicated that a minibus
driver might have information about these kinds of thefts. The two then
went to see the minibus driver who directed them to M.K., whom the
driver knew from the neighborhood, for discussions on the matter. M.Ş.
went to meet with M.K. and asked for help. M.K. made some phone
calls and located the Imam's stolen automobile.

However, the thieves said they wanted 1,500TL. They instructed M.Ş.
not to contact the police and told him that if he brought them the money
he would find out where his car was. Nevertheless, M.Ş. alerted the
police to the situation and they took suspects M.K. and G.D. into
custody. During the subsequent intrerrogation (!) the location of the car
was determined. In addition to M.Ş.'s car, another stolen vehicle was
found at the same location.

Processing of M.K. and G.D. was completed at the Car Theft Bureau
of the Istanbul Public Security Directorate and they were transported
to jail. Police are seeking another person in connection with the
incident.

Marital Woes: Before & After

knife links to original article

//before...//

(Sabah Newspaper, 1 December 2011)

In Kağıthane, Istanbul, P.O. (20) said to her waiter boyfriend M.E.K. (25)
'close your eyes, I'm going to give you something' and then stabbed him in
the chest. M.E.K. had promised to marry P.O., having taken her
virginity, but he subsequently reneged. M.E.K. was seriously wounded
and P.O. was arrested when she went to the hospital to express her regret
to M.E.K. A charge carrying a sentence of nine years was filed against P.O.

According to the indictment prepared by the Istanbul Public Prosecutor,
P.O. and M.E.K., who both work as waiters at the same restaurant in
Kağıthane, started to have a relationship about 7 or 8 months ago. During
this time M.E.K. won P.O.'s heart with a promise to marry her. On the
night of 3 November, when the stabbing incident occurred, M.E.K. had
come to P.O.'s home and spent the night there. In the morning, as M.E.K.
was leaving for work P.O. brought up the marriage issue, saying 'you
said you'd marry me. So let's get married.' In response, M.E.K. had said
'I'm going to do my military service. You do what you want to do.'

Hearing this P.O. was shocked but concealed her anger. She went to the
kitchen, got a knife which she hid behind her back and came back to
M.E.K. P.O. then said 'close you eyes. I'm going to give you something.'
When M.E.K. did so P.O. suddenly plunged the knife she was holding
into his chest. In great pain, M.E.K. grabbed the knife from his girlfriend,
ran outside and took a taxi to the hospital where he was treated for life-
threatening wounds.

P.O. felt remorse following the incident and wanted to find out about her
boyfriend's condition so she went to the hospital but was arrested there
by police. In her statement she said 'he deceived me into loving him with
a promise of marriage. He took my virginity but since we were going to
marry I put up with the situation and didn't complain. When he said he
wouldn't marry me I grabbed the knife to scare him but as we struggled
the knife accidently plunged into him.'

P.O. was transported to the prosecutor who completed the interrogation
and filed a charge carrying a sentence of 5 to 9 years for the crime of
'wounding'. The trial will begin in the days ahead at the Istanbul Court
of First Instance.


//and after...//

GPS links to original article

(Sabah Newspaper, 1 December 2011)

In Isparta, the Yurdakul couple, who got married four years ago, started
to live apart eight months ago. Fadime Yurdakul (21), who has sued
for divorce, filed a complaint with the Halıkent Police Station the day
before yesterday, saying that her husband, who doesn't want to divorce,
was harrassing her. At about 1800 Fadime Yurdakul left the police
station and began walking toward the market when Serdar Yurdakul (28),
who was following the woman in his car, stopped his vehicle in the
back of the Isparta Governor's Office.

Serdar Yurdakul said he wanted to make up and tried to get his wife into
his car. She refused so he forceably put her into the trunk of the car
and fled. Security forces, reacting to the news from bystanders, learned
from the car's license plate that it had been rented from a company in
Antalya. In a short time, officials were able to pinpoint the location of
the vehicle thanks to the GPS mounted in it.

It was determined that the car was parked in front of a factory on the
Isparta-Eğirdir highway so a large number of police were sent there.
Nevertheless, Serdar Yurdakul tried to flee in spite of warnings from
police for him to stop. Units at the Eğirdir District Gendarmerie Command
at the entrance to the district heard about the situation and blocked the
road. However, Yurdakul was able to flee from here, as well. After a long
chase,the car was brought to a halt at the Eğirdir Port location and Serdar
Yurdakul was taken into custody.  The young woman in the trunk was
set free.

The couple had previously lived in Antalya, have no children and their
divorce suit has been under discussion in recent days. Serdar Yurdakul
works for a logistics firm.

One Close Shave Too Many

shave links to original article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 1 December 2011)

Textile worker Fabuk B. (41) was involved in a traffic argument six years
ago in Bostancı, during which he killed one person and wounded another
in their pickup truck. Thanks to the alertness of a policeman he has been
caught. The policeman from the Murder Bureau went to the same barber
he always goes to and recognized the person next to him getting a shave as
the suspect.

The incident in question occurred on 13 October 2005 on the E-5 highway
in Bostancı, when textile worker Faruk B. argued with two people in a
pickup truck who had cut him off on the road. The argument quickly
grew into a fight, with both parties cursing each other. Since there was
heavy traffic on the road, the two cars would advance a bit and the
individuals would get out of their vehicles from time to time to continue
the fight.

According to the statements of eye witnesses, when traffic came to a
halt the persons in the pickup truck got out and started to break the
windows of Faruk B.'s car. At this point, Faruk B. took out his pistol
and started firing at the pickup truck occupants. Çoşkun Karataş (37)
was killed during the incident and Ferhat Aslaner (37) was injured.
Faruk B. then disappeared.

Thanks to the alertness of the Murder Bureau policeman Faruk B. who
has been sought for six years, was arrested. The policeman went to
the same barber he always goes to in Zeytinburnu and recognized the
person getting a shave next to him as Faruk B. The policeman didn't
leave the shop after his haircut but instead asked the suspect, who
was still getting his shave, for identification.

The policeman realized that the identity card Faruk B. had shown
him was fake so he took Faruk B., whose face was still covered with
shaving lather, into custody. When taken to the Murder Bureau it
was confirmed that Faruk B. was in fact the suspect police have
been searching for for six years.  After formalities, the suspect was
taken to jail.
   

Prophet's Heir's Profit Motive

prophet links to related article

(Sözcü Newspaper, 30 November 2011)

In Kocaeli's Gebze district, Mustafa Mallı allegedly identified himself as a
descendent of the prophet (Muhammed) in 2008, promised 1049 families
that they would be homeowners, collected gold and foreign exchange that
these families had accumulated and then vanished.

Mallı had told the victims 'we come from the family of the Prophet.
Buying a house from us is like buying one from heaven' and made similar
promises. Some 296 of the family member filed a complaint against Mallı
and an arrest warrant was issued. Yesterday he was captured.

As Mallı was being transported to the Gebze Courthouse yesterday
about 250 victims who heard that he had been arrested flocked there .
One woman said that 'I sacrificed my family's bread and gave him more
than 50 gold coins.' Mallı gave a statement to the prosecutor and was
incarcerated by the duty court.