Van's 'Kara Haydar' investigation: Testimony of arrested Çağla Öz Tançalan revealed

The testimony given by social media influencer Çağla Öz Tançalan as part of the "money laundering" investigation conducted against her husband, Mehmet Fatih Tançalan, has been revealed. Following Tançalan, who is known to the public as "Vanlı Kara Haydar," Çağla Öz Tançalan was also detained and subsequently arrested by the court.

The investigation was deepened following the large amounts of gold and money announcements made at a wedding held in Van, which caused a wide stir on social media. Mehmet Fatih Tançalan was detained at his home in the Muradiye district of Van on September 8 and was later arrested.

CLAIMS OF RENTAL FOR SOME OF THE GOLD

According to the testimony reflected in the file, Çağla Öz Tançalan stated that she did not agree with the claim that all the jewelry worn at the wedding was rented. Tançalan said, "Although Mehmet Fatih stated in his testimony that all the jewelry was rented, I know they were purchased."

Çağla Öz Tançalan stated that 2 cuff bracelets and 1 Calcutta necklace were jewelry worn at their engagement and were reused at the wedding. She stated that the crown, belt, and chain were rented from a jeweler in exchange for advertising and were returned after the wedding.

Tançalan said that some bracelets brought along with the chain were placed on her by her husband, but she did not know where they were purchased. She alleged that all the jewelry was taken from her by Mehmet Fatih Tançalan after the wedding.

"I DO NOT THINK 43 MILLION TL WAS COLLECTED"

Çağla Öz Tançalan also evaluated the announcement that "43 million TL in jewelry and IBAN transfers" had been collected as gifts at the wedding. Stating that she did not know whether such an amount of money had been collected, Tançalan said she thought most of the people whose names were read out were "imaginary."

In her testimony, Tançalan alleged that her husband had such announcements made for the sake of showmanship, saying, "Actually, an announcement was being made for money that was not given. The goal was to announce that a lot of money was coming to him." Çağla Öz stated, "He is someone who likes to show off and brag. He is someone who displays money that does not exist as if it were real in his virtual world on social media. He is also someone who lives his ostentatious lifestyle by borrowing from people."

Tançalan further stated that she never considered the gold to be her own, and that the jewelry was taken by her husband after the wedding, just as it was after the engagement. Stating that she did not ask her husband about the source of the gold, Tançalan expressed that she saw the jewelry worn at the wedding as normal within the tradition of tribal weddings in the region.

It was reported that Çağla Öz Tançalan had been sought as a fugitive for two days as part of the investigation and was caught in Istanbul and taken to Van. While Tançalan and M.S.T. were arrested after being referred to the courthouse in Van, N.O. and S.A. were released under judicial control conditions.

While police units are conducting a financial investigation regarding the gold stated to have been worn at the wedding and the images reflected on social media, an examination was also requested from the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK). It was stated that jewelry and money were seized in a suitcase during a search conducted in Muradiye.