This time it's an imam fraud scheme... The Hagia Sophia Imam is also on the list!

According to journalist and BirGün columnist Timur Soykan, two imams who engaged in fraud using the "carp spiral" method by promoting vehicles with 'RTE' and 'AKP' license plates have been sentenced to 206 years in prison each.

According to Soykan's article, the imams, who tried to turn the "6-month 6,000-kilometer" rule introduced by the government to allow the resale of new vehicles into an opportunity, promised to collect the money and deliver the vehicles after 6 months. In August 2023, hundreds of millions of liras had been collected, but many victims were unable to receive their vehicles. Those who were given vehicles found that they appeared to be rentals, and the vehicles were subsequently taken back.

THE HAGIA SOPHIA IMAM IS ALSO AMONG THE NAMES

Among the names associated with this fraud were Hagia Sophia Imam Bünyamin Topçuoğlu and Durağan Mayor Ahmet Kılıçaslan. Additionally, Engin Elibol, the owner of the Elibol Fleet Company, which was alleged to have provided the automobiles, and employees of CNGZ Fleet were arrested in November 2023. The allegations that the imams mediated automobile sales were also linked to Diyanet unions.

THE CASE HAS CONCLUDED  

The case heard at the Bakırköy 9th High Criminal Court concluded at the end of 2024. Two imams named Halil Cengiz and Ahmet Cengiz were sentenced to 206 years in prison each for defrauding 45 people. Murat Dilek, who worked at the company established by the imams, received 64 years and 8 months in prison, while Abdulkadir Çelik received 2.5 years in prison.

The wives of the two imams were also punished for fraud crimes. Halil Cengiz's wife, Hatice Cengiz, received 2.5 years in prison for defrauding one person, while Ahmet Cengiz's wife, Hatice Cengiz, received 6 years in prison for defrauding three people. Furthermore, car dealer Şaban Haktan and brokers Ertuğrul Şahlan and Yüksel Turgut were also sentenced to prison.

News Source: 12punto