Manager who defrauded workplace tea server flees abroad: 'Take out a loan, we will pay it back,' he said

Elmira Sultan, an Ahiska Turk living in Bursa, trusted M.G., a manager at the company where she worked, while dreaming of becoming a homeowner with the 1 million 850 thousand lira inheritance left by her late husband. Stating that she handed over her money with the promise of a land investment, Sultan said that she was later forced to take out a loan, waited months for a title deed, and lost all her savings. While a lawsuit has been filed against M.G. on charges of fraud, Sultan has requested that her grievances be addressed.

Elmira Sultan, who works as a tea server at a private company, explained what she went through, stating that she wanted to buy a small house with the inheritance left by her late husband. Saying that she went to her manager at the workplace, M.G., to get advice during the home-buying process, Sultan stated that she was offered a land investment in Şile, Istanbul.

"He gained my trust by saying 'I will help you'"

Stating that M.G. told her he would help her, Sultan said, "I had money left from my late husband. I wanted to buy a house. I went to him for advice. He told me he had land in Şile, Istanbul. 'Let's buy you a plot of land too,' he said. When I said my money wasn't enough, he explained that they would help me. First, he asked for 200 thousand lira. I gave him the money I had saved by cleaning. He kept telling me, 'Trust me, we don't do anything wrong,'" she said.

Stating that she also handed over money sent by her relatives in Russia, Sultan noted that she gave a total of 2 million 150 thousand lira.

"He said, 'Take out a loan, we will pay it'"

Stating that after a while she was told the money provided was not enough, Sultan said, "This time he told me I needed to take out a loan. Thinking he would help me, I took out a 200 thousand lira loan while crying. He said he would pay the loan himself. However, when I went to him when the payment dates arrived, he didn't care. I had to pay the loan with my own salary," she said.

Stating that she experienced great distress due to the loan, Sultan said, "With interest, I had about 275 thousand lira in credit card debt. I am currently in the eighth month and I am still paying it. For a period, I didn't even have money to buy food. I am trying to both make a living and pay off the loan with my salary," she expressed.

"I waited months for the title deed"

Explaining that she was told she would be given a title deed in exchange for the land but was kept waiting for months, Sultan said, "He asked the consultants to give me 1-6 months. He said he would give me my title deed. I waited, but I was constantly stalled. Later, we learned that he was processing visa applications to go abroad. That's when we realized he was going to flee," she said.

Stating that she was fired two weeks before her one-year employment period was completed, Sultan said, "He fired me 2 weeks before I was entitled to severance pay. Then he went abroad," she said.

Total losses alleged to reach 100 million lira

Stating that she learned she was not alone in this process, Sultan said, "We later learned that other business people were also victimized. It is being discussed that a total of 6 people were victimized and the loss reached approximately 100 million lira," she said.

Explaining that as a result of the victims' efforts they received a signed promissory note from M.G., Sultan said, "He gave a promissory note stating that he would pay his debt by June 6. However, the date came and went, and no payment was made. We filed a lawsuit and the legal process is ongoing," she said.

"It was money left from my husband"

Stating that she is having difficult days due to the victimization she experienced, Sultan said, "I can't sleep, I'm constantly crying. That money was the inheritance left to me by my late husband. My only wish is for my voice to be heard and to get my rights back. I am in a very difficult situation," she said.

On the other hand, it was learned that the lawsuit filed against M.G. is ongoing.