14 people were arrested: Testimonies of the police officer and court clerk who leaked information to the 'Casperlar' gang revealed

A new investigation was launched by the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into the 'Casperlar' criminal organization, led by İsmail Atız in the Bahçelievler, Küçükçekmece, and Bağcılar districts, which was determined to be involved in crimes such as 'plunder', 'intentional injury', 'threats', 'drug trafficking', 'prostitution', and 'deprivation of liberty'. Within the scope of the ongoing investigation, it was revealed that information was being leaked to the Casperlar criminal organization by certain public officials.

As a result of the investigations, it was determined that the organization members were in a mutually beneficial relationship with public officials and that the organization had criminal and search records queried by officers working in courthouses and various other locations. The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office issued detention orders for a total of 17 suspects, including 9 police officers, 1 court clerk, 1 customs enforcement officer, and 1 former police officer, through the Istanbul Police Department. The 17 suspects were detained in an operation conducted at their addresses.

14 PEOPLE, INCLUDING 7 POLICE OFFICERS AND 1 COURT CLERK, WERE ARRESTED

The number of suspects rose to 18 after one more person was detained as part of the ongoing investigation. The suspects, whose procedures at the police station were completed, were referred to the Bakırköy Courthouse yesterday morning. After their statements were taken at the prosecutor's office, 17 suspects were referred to the Duty Magistrate's Court with a request for 'arrest', and 1 suspect was referred with a request for judicial control measures. 14 individuals, including 7 police officers and 1 court clerk, were arrested and sent to prison after their procedures at the magistrate's court were completed. 4 individuals were released with a travel ban.

SUSPECTS' TESTIMONIES TO THE DUTY MAGISTRATE REVEALED

In his questioning at the magistrate's court, suspect police officer A.Ö. said, "I know İbrahim Tankoş from the Narcotics Branch. We meet as families. I met suspect Serkan Cemal Güney when he came to visit İbrahim Tankoş. I have not had the authority to query names for 2 years. The Orkinos operation was also published by the Ministry of Interior. After the operation was completed, I sent the list to my friend Tankoş. I do not have the authority to have names removed from the list. Following the Orkinos operation, the list of names was circulating on social media. I asked İbrahim and Serkan Cemal if they knew anyone on the list, and I said that if they did, we could go and catch them. The reason for this was my desire to return to the Narcotics Branch. I also did not know that Tankoş had been dismissed from his post."

Suspect police officer A.A., who stated in his testimony that he met car dealer Serkan Cemal Güney while conducting a crime investigation in Esenyurt, said, "I was the one who prepared the statement-taking and release documents for Serkan Cemal's wife, H.G., who was a suspect. H.G. also came to give her statement. I was the one who took her statement. I prepared both the statement and release reports. I signed in the place where my own registration number is. I left the name of my group chief, E.Y., blank. I would collect all the documents I prepared during the day in one corner, and they would be signed in bulk. I do not know who signed in place of E.Y. I did not query Güven Şener from the Polnet system. Since I was a registrar at the police station, my Polnet is usually open. It remains open even when I step out for a short time. I have no information about 3 thousand lira being sent to my account by Serkan Cemal on the date the query was made. I am just a friend to Serkan Cemal."

"THE REASON FOR THE 1 MILLION 86 THOUSAND LIRA DEPOSIT..."

Suspect court clerk E.B. said in his defense, "I provided information to Serkan Cemal Güney just as I would to a lawyer. I did this to help convicts with sentences of over 5 years. I never made any demands for bribes from Güney. Since there was no organization warning in the UYAP system, I did not think about whether the people Mr. Serkan asked about had any connection to an organization, and it did not cross my mind. I have no connection to or knowledge of drug-related business. When I asked Serkan about the names he had me query, he always answered, 'He is a close friend of mine.' I made these queries and gave them to him to be helpful. I did not provide information to anyone for profit. The reason for the 1 million 86 thousand lira deposit was that he felt indebted to me as a result of the inquiries I had made for him."

Suspect İbrahim Tankoş, who was revealed to have been arrested 50 days ago for membership in the 'Casperlar' criminal organization, also said in his testimony, "I accept everything I asked about personal information that was found on my phone. None of my officer friends made any demands of me regarding this. I did not send money for them to give me this personal data. The money was sent because they asked to borrow from me, and I sent it due to our friendship."

In the referral document written by the Magistrate's Court, it was stated that the 14 individuals were arrested for a total of 4 crimes they were accused of, and the decision was made based on the nature of the crimes, the examination reports of the phones of suspects Serkan Cemal Güney and İbrahim Tankoş, account movements, and police reports, citing the existence of evidence showing strong suspicion of the crimes committed. The decision also included information that judicial control measures in the form of 'signing' and a 'travel ban' were imposed on the 4 individuals who were released under judicial control.