"Beat & Release": Deviant "Lothario" Nearly Rapes Elderly Woman but Goes Free, in Bursa

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 14 January 2025)

              Couldn't get a cell even if he wanted one.

In June 2023, on the first day of Kurban Bayramı (feast of the

sacrifice) in Bursa's Orhangazi district,  N.T. (84), who was 

partially paralyzed, nearly deaf and living alone, left her door 

open to allow holiday visitors to drop by.  Serkan Tutkun (23 

and whose surname means "madly in love" (!))  took advantage 

of the open door to enter and tell N.T. "I'm a doctor. I've come 

to examine you."

Tutkun "examined" N.K. by nearly raping her and then rifling 

through her belongings for money.  When she screamed neighbors 

came and Tutkun fled but was captured by police.  N.T. died two 

weeks later of bleeding in the brain.

In his statement, Tutkun "explained" in graphic detail how he

undressed N.T. and fondled her.  He claimed his goal was to

find money for his psychological medicines.  For these various

crimes Tutkun was sentenced to 15 years in jail. 

However (!), an appeals court acquitted Tutkun of the 

"intentionally wounding" charge and released him on judicial

supervision so he is now back among us. 

Tutkun wore this t-shirt in court. Evidently it  influenced

the judge...

"Beat & Release": Game of "Hide & Seek" With Police Ends Badly for Fugitive, in Adana

türkçe links to orginal Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 13 January 2025)

       "Catch me if you can!"

In Adana's Çukurova district, police set out to arrest fugitive

Oğulcan Şahin (21), who has a police record of 123 crimes (!).

Şahin escaped from prison four months ago.  Police located

Şahin's car on Adnan Menderes Boulevard but when they

stopped the car Şahin was not inside. 

Reacting to this failed capture by the police, Şahin haughtily

posted this taunt on social media: "Look hard at the license 

plates.  Maybe you'll find me."  

The day after this post, police surveilled Şahin's girlfriend and 

determined that he was hiding out at a house in Seyhan 

district, preparing to flee Turkey.  When police broke down

the door and seized Şahin he said to them "uh, I wasn't 

expecting you."  (!)

A search of the house yielded a Kalashnikov artillery rifle,

an unlicensed revolver with 35 bullets, a bullet-proof vest,

narcotics and a sensitive weighing scale.  In his statement,

Şahin "explained" the guns, saying "I have enemies. I kept

the guns for self-defense."  He was jailed and the guns are

being examined to determine whether they were used in

other crimes. 

They could.

"Fleece & Release": When "Holy Water" is Mixed With Tap Water is It Still Holy?, Controversy in Adana

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 12 January 2025)

            "I haven't gotten any complaints so far..."

Police in Adana received a tip that fake "zemzem" (holy water)

was being produced and sold at a depot in Seyhan district.  

Following physical and technical surveillance, police determined

that depot owner Mehmet Bilal Ç. was mixing "zemzem" brought

from Mecca by TIR (long-haul trucks) drivers with regular tap

water (!). 

Mehmet Bilal Ç. was bottling the fake "zemzem" and sending it

to Istanbul for nationwide distribution.  On 9 January police raided

the depot and found 16,000 liters of fake "zemzem", thousands of

bottles and 300 rolls of labels for the bottles.

Suspect Mehmet Bilal Ç. has a police record of  crimes such as

"intentional wounding", "threatening", "insulting" and "impeding

performance of duty".  In his statement given to police after he

was taken into custody, Mehmet Bilal Ç. "explained" that 

"Zemzem" water is quite popular so I wanted to make some

money off this popularity.  I make almost all the "zemzem" in

Turkey.  I don't think the "zemzem" is fake.  So far I haven't

gotten any complaints." (!)

"Fleece & Release": Instagram Antique Sale Gets Complicated, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 11 January 2025)

               Yet another social media horror story. 

In Istanbul, Serpil F., having an interest in antiques, became a 

follower of "galatadan.antika", the Instagram account of  Yavuz

Borucu, a collector and seller of antiques.  Serpil hanım bought

a number of these antiques and she told Borucu that she wanted

to open her own antiques shop and was collecting items for this

purpose.  She added, though, that right now she didn't have such

a place to put the antiques.

In response, Borucu told Serpil hanım that he would keep the

items Serpil hanım purchased from him in his own depot for

the time being.  Subsequently, Serpil hanım received a list

and photographs of the antiques she had purchased from 

Borucu for 4 million TL (about $113,000).  However (!),

when she had these items sent to her she received odds and

ends of metal scrap instead. 

When Serpil hanım  went to Borucu's workplace in the Balat

neighborhood, Borucu and his father denied receiving any

money from her for the items and chased her from their

shop.  Serpil then tried to recoup her items and/or money

through court action but was threatened by Borucu, who was

then ordered by the court to stay away from Serpil hanım

for two months. 

In a counterattack, Borucu's lawyer asserted that the antique

items Serpil hanım wanted were sent to her but she never

paid Borucu for them.  The court accepted this objection and

lifted the 2-month restraining order imposed on Borucu (!).

Balat is itself an antique.

"Beat & Release": Irate Customer Kills 2 Postal Workers, in Rize

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hüriyet Newspaper, 8 January 2025)

 

                 A post office should be a boring place.

In Rize last evening, V.K. went to the post office in the

Mermerdelen neighborhood to pick up a card for his father.  

However (!), the postal workers told V.K. that his father would 

have to come for the card himself.  

Enraged at this response, V.K. took out a gun and shot cargo chief

Selim Okumuş (55) and janitor Ömer Beyazıt (45), killing them 

both (!).  V.K. fled but was caught by police hiding out in Rize

city center. 

"Beat & Release": Washing Machine "Walks" During Spin Cycle and Blocks Front Door, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Cumhuriyert Newspaper, 6 January 2025)

                    "What's the password humans??!!"

In Kağıthane district of Istanbul, two friends left their home 

after starting the washing machine.  However (!), returning

in the evening they couldn't open the front door and called

the fire department for help.  A firefighter entered the home

through a window and saw that the washing machine had

"walked" in front of the front door, blocking it.  Neighbors

had a good laugh about the "walking washing machine".

Günay Köroğlu and Eren Kavak live on the 4th floor of a 

6-story building. The firefighter who entered their home

by climbing a ladder to the 4th floor and entering through 

a window, found that while the washing machine was in the

"spin cycle" its vibrations caused it to "walk"  in front

of the door (!). 

"Beat & Release": Social Media Phenom's Veiled Plane Ride Gets Him Arrested, in Istanbul

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 6 January 2025)

                                       How cute!

Social media phenom Murat Övüç (57) shared images of 

himself on board an airplane wearing a veil on his head,

prompting the Istanbul public prosecutor to issue a warrant

for his arrest.  The day before yesterday Övüç was apprehended

in Beyoğlu.

Övüç has a police record of crimes including "inciting the

public to enmity and hatred; belittling the Turkish nation,

the Republic and state organs; intentional wounding; and

betrayal of trust".  He was released under judicial control. 

He's also a walking billboard for luxury goods.