It was alleged they managed the Dutch drug lord's operations in Turkey: Those two panel members have returned to duty
Two members of the Istanbul 15th High Criminal Court panel, who were suspended over allegations that they accepted bribes to release Abdullah Alp Üstün and his team—who managed the operations of drug lord 'Tombul Jos' in Turkey—have been reinstated to their duties on the grounds that no criminal element was found. The fugitive defendants, however, have still not been captured.
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Dutch drug lord Joseph Johannes Leijdekkers, also known as Tombul Jos, is known for his drug trafficking and money laundering operations in Turkey. Abdullah Alp Üstün, who is alleged to have managed his Turkish wing, was arrested in recent years but was later released amid allegations that a 750 thousand dollar bribe was paid.
The Istanbul 15th High Criminal Court panel released Üstün during the hearing held on July 5, 2024, a decision that caused a major public outcry. Following investigations, an inquiry was launched into the three members of the panel, and they were suspended. However, it has been learned that following the investigation, court members Arzu A. and Veysi G. were reinstated to their duties on the grounds that they were innocent. No decision has yet been made regarding the presiding judge of the panel, Oktay A.
BRIBERY ALLEGATIONS AND THE JUDICIAL PROCESS
Tombul Jos's relative Abdullah Alp Üstün, his son Efe Alp, and other defendants Aziz Demir, Bahadır Mert Oğur, Eric Schroeder, Selçuk Aydın, and Wilhelmus Adrianus Leijdekkers were released by the court during the hearing on July 5, 2024. According to the allegations, the release decision was made in exchange for 750 thousand dollars.
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office immediately appealed this release decision, and the Istanbul 16th High Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for the defendants. However, while only Aziz Demir among the fugitive defendants was captured, Abdullah Alp Üstün, his son Efe Alp, and the other defendants have disappeared.
HSK INTERVENTION: DISMISSAL REQUESTED, BUT...
Following the release scandal, the Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSK) took action. In the examination conducted by the HSK Inspection Board;
It was stated that the release decision was made despite the prosecutor's request for the continued detention of all defendants,
That MASAK reports regarding money laundering and drug trafficking were present in the file,
And that the releases occurring despite such serious accusations were suspicious.
HSK inspectors requested the dismissal of Presiding Judge Oktay A. and members Arzu A. and Veysi G. from the profession. While the panel was suspended in August 2024, as a result of the investigation, it was decided that there was no criminal element for Arzu A. and Veysi G., and they were reinstated to their duties. However, the process continues for Presiding Judge Oktay A.
TOMBUL JOS'S ESCAPE ROUTE
Joseph Johannes Leijdekkers, or Tombul Jos, who was sentenced to 24 years in prison by Dutch authorities for cocaine trafficking, appeared in Sierra Leone after fleeing Turkey.
Leijdekkers, who was filmed on January 1, 2025, at a mass held at St. Joseph Catholic Church in the city of Tihun, Sierra Leone, was caught on camera sitting two rows behind the country's President, Julius Maada Bio, with a woman. According to security sources, Tombul Jos is married to the president's daughter, Agnes Bio, and is under high-level protection in the country.
HIS CONNECTIONS IN TURKEY
Tombul Jos entered Turkey on July 4, 2020, with a German passport issued under the name 'Daniel Ernst'. After staying for a while, Jos went abroad and returned to Turkey on September 7, 2020, via private jet, this time entering through Bodrum Airport with his real identity.
According to MASAK reports;
Three days after arriving in Turkey, on September 10, 2020, he opened an account at Denizbank.
On September 22, 2020, 500 thousand euros were deposited into this account, but the money transfer was not investigated.
Using this 500 thousand euros, Jos bought a hotel in Bodrum and applied for Republic of Turkey citizenship.
A residence permit was issued in Turkey, and he continued to live there for a certain period.
However, as international investigations into him deepened, he covered his tracks and fled to Sierra Leone.
WHERE ARE THE FUGITIVE DEFENDANTS?
Abdullah Alp Üstün, who managed Tombul Jos's organization in Turkey, and the fugitive defendants have still not been captured.
