"Beat & Release": Gendarmerie Seized "Golden Shoes", in Hakkari

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 11 December 2024)

                                             End user.

In Yüksekova district of Hakkari province, Gendarmerie teams

stopped a vehicle and found 18 kilograms of gold ingots 

hidden in the shoes of the two passengers (!).  The gold has

a market value of 54 million TL (about $1.5 million).

In an announcement the Hakkari Governorate stated that:

"The Hakkari Provincial Gendarmerie Command learned

from a tip that undeclared gold was being smuggled in a

vehicle in Yüksekova district.  The vehicle in question was

identified, stopped and a search of the two individuals inside 

the vehicle revealed 18 gold ingots, one of which was 

24-carat gold, with each ingot weighing one kilogram, hidden

in their shoes (!). Judicial measures have been initiated."

"Dive & Release": Gold From the Deep Found by "Hobby" Diver, Seized by Police, in Bartın

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 10 December 2024)

               Are pawn shops the same as museums?...

At the Küçük Liman bay in Amasra district of Bartın province, 

Sercan A. (35) dove in a restricted archeological site with a 

detector searching for gold.  Yesterday he did the same thing

at Büyük Liman bay, was taken into custody and released. 

Citizens noticed Sercan A. diving with the detector and 

informed the police and Coast Guard officials, who came and 

seized  a gold ring, earrings, coins and some other metal items

from Sercan A.  

He had come from Izmir to dive at the Bartın shore, saying

that he is not a treasure hunter and that this is just his hobby.

Sercan A. asserted that he turns over anything that might

have historical value to museums. (!) 

"Beat & Release": What's in a Name - Chilean Thief Escobar (!) Robs Swiss Businessman's Home, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 8 December 2024)

                Swiss Family Robbed and then some. 

In Beşiktaş, Istanbul, Chilean Franco Antonio Escobar climbed

the fence surrounding the home of  Swiss businessman 

Donikyan Kevork (63) and stole 3.5 TL worth of jewelry and

foreign currency from the safe.  He was pursued, caught and

jailed. 

The incident occurred about eight-thirty at night on 13 November

in the Kuruçeşme neighborhood.  Kevork, who lives with his

family in Istanbul, had gone out for the evening.  Taking full

advantage of Kevork's and his family's absence, the suspect

climbed up to the 3rd-floor flat, broke the window and 

entered, wounding his hand in the process.  Once inside, the

thief found the safe and removed the valuables.

Kevork returned home and realized he'd been robbed so he

called the police, who reviewed street security camera footage

and noted that the suspect had boarded a city bus. After 

reviewing 32 hours worth of footage from 54 cameras, police

nabbed Chilean national Franco Antonio Escobar S.J. (28)

in a hotel in the Beyoğlu neighborhood.  All of Kevork's

valuables were found in the Chilean's room and returned

to him.  Senor Franco was jailed.

Young Franco with Dad at the White House years ago.

"Beat & Release": Policeman O.K. Stole and Sold Guns & Ammo to Settle His Debts, in Adana

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 4 December 2024)

Hmmm, seems like a lot of stuff is missing...that's not OK!

New details have come out about the theft and sale of guns

and ammunition from the Adana police depot.  Special

operations policeman O.K. (!) planned the sale of the weapons 

and ammunition to settle debts he incurred playing the stock 

market. 

O.K. sold the weapons material to Y.Y., a policeman who

was fired because of his connections to FETÖ (Fethullah

Gülen Terror Organization) and his use of the FETÖ 

"ByLock" email system., through female "başkomiser"

(chief inspector) Z.T. M., assigned to the special operations

office in Mersin.  Z.T.M sold the items to a hunting shop,

together with A.M., the wife of a policeman in Mezitli, and

criminal organization lawyer M.Y.  

The suspects made the theft look like the guns and ammo

had been expended during training before selling them to

the criminal organization.  

Policeman O.K. sold t-shirts for his debt relief too.

Raids were conducted on 29 November and O.K., A.M.,

Z.T.M. and M.Y. were among the 11 suspects taken into

custody.  Found at M.Y.'s office were 139 hand bombs, 55

revolvers, 3 automatic revolvers, 2 hunting rifles, 7,621

bullets of various calibers, 200 clips, 17 ballistic vests, 5

electro-shock devices, 40 pepper spray canisters and 23

knives. (!)

An inventory of the depot revealed that 100 hand bombs

and 255,000 bullets were missing and police are trying to

track down the buyers of the stolen material.  O.K., who

confessed, former policeman Y.Y., lawyer M.Y., police

wife A.M., along with E.T., A.K. and K.B. were jailed

and four others released on judicial supervision. 

"Fleece & Release": More Than Half a Million Dollars Bilked From Animal Donations, in Ankara

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 3 December 2024)

                    Buket hanım tending her herd.

The Ankara public prosecutor began an investigation into ill-gotten

gains reaped by the directors of the "Yaşama Tutanan Patiler Derneği"

(Association for Paws Holding on to Life) organization.  A total of 18

individuals came under suspicion of using contributions for the care

of animals for their own purposes, amounting to 20 million TL (about

$575,000) (!)

Nine of the 18 suspects were taken into custody, including association

chief Buket Özgünlü, her brother-in-law, and her older sister Demet 

Kılıç. These three were jailed as was Ertan Işık, the owner of a parrot 

shop (!).  They were charged with using donations that came for the 

care and feeding of animals for themselves.

Missing from the sign: "Hold on to your wallet!"

"Beat & Release": Ambulance Driver Attacked by Traffic Goons, in Bursa

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 2 December 2024)

      Hey guys! What about the heart attack victim??!!

On 10 October, ambulance driver Muhammet Ali Karasulu

was taking a heart attack victim to a hospital in Bursa, speeding

along the shoulder of the highway with his lights flashing and

siren blaring.  But when another car cut in front of Karasulu,

he had to slow down.  The driver of  the car in back of him 

wanted to pass Karasulu and succeeded in overtaking the

ambulance, cutting of Karasulu and stopping. 

Alighting from the car were Selim Yedikardeş, Semih 

Yedikardeş and Melih Yedikardeş, who cursed and insulted

Karasulu, whose throat was squeezed by Selim bey when

he got out of the ambulance.  Melih bey then began to punch

Karasulu, shouting "I'll kill you! You're done for!"  

Subsequent to this unpleasantness, Karasulu got a "darp"

(beating) report from a doctor to confirm his injuries, one

of which was a break in the "larnyx hyoid" bone in his

throat.  Police took the three Yedikardeşler's into custody

but they, in turn, filed a complaint against Karasulu for 

attacking them (!). 

Good thing he had an ambulance for himself.

Melih bey was jailed but his father Selim bey and brother

Semih bey were released.  After an inquiry, though, the

public prosecutor requested jail sentences of up to 8.5

years for Melih bey and Selim bey.  Semih bey was charged

with just "insulting".  

However (!), based on Melih bey's complaint, the public

prosecutor requested a jail sentence of up to 6.5 years

for Karasulu.  If this sentence is confirmed then Karasulu

will be barred from holding a government job.  In any case,

all the suspects will appear before a judge tomorrow. 

Artist Waited 55 Years to Claim Compensation for Atatürk Portrait - Too Late!

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 1 December 2024)

          Better late than never...but better never late.

Artist Etem Çalışkan first published his pencil-drawn portrait and 

signature of Atatürk on 10 November 1969.  Since then the work

has been seen all over and some merchants have printed and sold

t-shirts, such as textile firm owner B.S.  This situation has now

prompted artist Çalişkan to demand compensation. 

When B.S. learned of Çalışkan's complaint he says that he stopped

producing the t-shirts.  However, Ankara public prosecutor Mehmet

Taştan ruled that since up to now Çalışkan had never complained

about others using his work, 55 years later he cannot demand

compensation from B.S. or anyone else.

So maybe they should be free...or two for the price of one...