New details in the fake diploma scandal... Messages on mobile phone revealed: How much did Volkan Uçak pay for the fake diploma?
Details in the fake diploma scandal are deepening. It has been confirmed that the diploma of Volkan Uçak, who made headlines with his dubious career path from carpet cleaning to psychology, is fake. A graduation record, created by accessing the Ege University system with a fake e-signature, was processed into the e-Government portal. Messages on Uçak's mobile phone have documented that he obtained the diploma for 80 thousand TL and negotiated a professorship for 250 thousand TL.
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The fake diploma investigation conducted by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has uncovered an organized fraud ring targeting the education system in Turkey. Prison sentences ranging from 5 to 50 years have been requested for 65 defendants, including well-known public figures, on charges of "forgery of official documents, unauthorized access to information systems, and unlawful use of personal data."
Among the defendants is Abdullah Volkan Uçak, who has appeared on television programs and is known by the title of "psychologist."
DIPLOMA PRODUCED WITH FAKE E-SIGNATURE ON BEHALF OF EGE UNIVERSITY
According to information reported in the Sabah newspaper, Volkan Uçak's Ege University psychology undergraduate diploma and clinical psychology master's diploma turned out to be fake. Moreover, these diplomas were created using a fake e-signature issued in the name of Işıl Gerekul Kırova, the Head of the Student Affairs Department at Ege University.
Unauthorized access was gained to the system, and a graduation record in Uçak's name was entered into the university's official system. Thus, Uçak's diplomas became visible in the e-Government system.
"ZAFER HOCA ASKED FOR 80,000 TL"
In his statement, Volkan Uçak said:
"I received my psychology education abroad. While researching online for its equivalency in Turkey, I met a person who introduced himself as 'Zafer Hoca,' whose name I later learned was Ziya Kadiroğlu. He told me he could resolve the equivalency procedures through Ege University. He asked for 80,000 TL in return."
Uçak stated that he only sent his high school diploma and that when he checked via e-Government afterward, he appeared as a graduate in the system. However, he claimed that he could not reach Ziya Kadiroğlu later, and therefore did not send the money.
Examinations conducted on Uçak's mobile phone contradicted his statement. Messages from a person saved under the name "SBKEZ" contained a diploma document, discussed how to process a "master's degree with thesis" record in the system, and included messages regarding the moment the diploma became visible on e-Government.
Furthermore, the phone records included messaging regarding diplomas and payments with defendant Adnan Taşdemir, who was saved under the name "Anahtarcı Adnan" (Locksmith Adnan).
Another detail on Uçak's mobile phone further escalated the scale of the scandal. It was determined that he had conversations with a person saved as "Türkiye İletişim Ofisi" (Turkey Communication Office) about obtaining an associate professorship certificate for 250,000 TL.
THE ENTIRE NETWORK EXPOSED: "ZİYA HOCA, Anahtarcı Adnan, SBKEZ..."
During the investigation process, Ziya Kadiroğlu, Adnan Taşdemir, and the individuals messaging under the username "SBKEZ," who played key roles in the fake diploma network, were identified. Correspondence regarding the procurement of documents for money was found for each of them.
It is assessed that these individuals acted in an organized manner and provided fake diplomas to hundreds of people at various levels.