Interesting statements in the trial of 21 defendants, including the Candan sisters: 'I will cover your loss with money from politics'

The trial of 21 defendants, in which Alisya Bahar Candan faces 14 to 44 years in prison and Gülnihal Çiçek, known as Nihal Candan, faces 8 to 24 years for fraud and membership in a criminal organization, continued. While the non-detained defendant Bahar Candan and her sister Nihal Candan did not attend the hearing held at the Küçükçekmece 5th High Criminal Court, some detained defendants and complainants were present.

"THEY WERE DEFRAUDING US"

Complainant Kübra Büyükyıldız, who provided a statement at the hearing, said, “I had a friend in Kars. She knew the defendant Hacı İsrafil Sağlam. Through them, I learned about the talk of buying cheap cars. My friend told me they were satisfied with the vehicle and had no problems. They sent me a list of vehicles. I sent the vehicle payment. I was told the car would arrive within 2 months. Even though 5 months passed, the vehicle was not delivered. During this time, my friend's second vehicle was delivered. Finally, my friend Emine called me. She said, ‘Kübra, they were defrauding us. They have been arrested.’ My money was refunded to me.”

"I WILL ENTER POLITICS, I WILL COVER YOUR LOSS WITH THE MONEY FROM THERE"

Complainant Metin Abdioğlu said, “My cousin told me that the defendant, doctor Refik Ersin Eroğlu, was selling vehicles at affordable prices by purchasing them through foreclosure. I went to the hospital where he worked and met with the doctor. He told me, ‘I buy the vehicles through tenders from the TMSF (Savings Deposit Insurance Fund). I sell them with a small profit. I only earn a commission from this.’ I chose 4 vehicles from the list. I ordered them. I sent all the money to his bank account.

The vehicles were supposed to arrive within a week, but they were not delivered. I went to Refik Ersin Eroğlu's workplace. He said, 'I am responsible for everything, there is no problem. The vehicles will arrive.' Later, I received 2 vehicles. They told me I had to enter the tender again to get the other vehicles.

The vehicles we bought in the tender were not delivered. I spoke to Refik Ersin Eroğlu on the phone every day. He kept telling me the vehicles would arrive. After the events, I went to Refik Ersin Eroğlu's office. He told me, 'Don't come here, you have no business here. I will enter politics, I will cover your loss with the money from there.' My loss has not been covered, I am filing a complaint," he said.

Following the complainants' statements, the interim decision was announced. The court ruled for the continuation of the detention of the detained defendants and adjourned the hearing to address deficiencies.

FROM THE INDICTMENT

The indictment prepared by the Küçükçekmece Chief Public Prosecutor's Office included 38 complainants, 1 complainant-suspect, and 21 defendants, including Nihal and Bahar Candan. The indictment also stated that the detained Gülnihal Çiçek was released under judicial control, taking into account the time she spent in detention. The indictment stated that the network led by Onur Apaydın and İlker Oflu defrauded citizens using the 'sazan sarmalı' (carp spiral) method by claiming they sold cheap vehicles. It was also noted in the indictment that Bahar and Nihal Candan were part of the hierarchical and organic structure of the criminal organization. The indictment stated, “the suspects participated in various television programs for a long time in the past, appeared in tabloid programs after becoming famous, and due to reaching a large number of followers on social media platforms, they possess the title of social media phenomenon and screen face, and are therefore well-known figures by large segments of society; due to this feature, they played an active role in deceiving victims at special meetings organized by the criminal organization for fraud activities.” The indictment stated that the organization leader Onur Apaydın carried out banking activities through Alisya Bahar Candan, who was in the position of 'secret accountant and treasurer' within the organization, and that the proceeds of the crime were laundered.

Suspect Hacı İsrafil Sağlam, who was responsible for procuring victims, said in his statement included in the indictment that he attended organization meetings, stating, “Everyone from the upper level attended the meetings. Field staff and lower levels could never attend. Everyone in the upper management of the organization participated. I saw Nihal Candan in two of the meetings. Nihal Candan was the girlfriend of organization leader Onur Apaydın. Other individuals showed respect to Nihal Candan and acted at a distance. Issues regarding the internal functioning of the organization and car buying and selling businesses were discussed in the presence of Nihal Candan.”

The indictment requested that Bahar Candan be sentenced to a total of 14 to 44 years in prison, including 2 to 4 years for 'membership in a criminal organization' and 12 to 40 years for 'fraud by claiming to be a public official or an employee of a bank, insurance, or credit institution, or by claiming to be associated with these institutions and organizations' (twice), and that Nihal Candan be sentenced to 8 to 24 years in prison for the same crimes. Prison sentences in varying proportions were requested for the other 20 suspects.