Verdict reached for the leader of the fraud gang mentioned in the Nihal and Bahar Candan sisters investigation

A fraud network operating in various provinces of Turkey had defrauded citizens with the promise of selling vehicles seized by official institutions and organizations through foreclosure at low prices.

The court announced its verdict regarding the case in which social media phenomena Bahar and Nihal Candan were also detained in recent months on allegations that they participated in meetings held with victims at luxury restaurants to provide a sense of trust and that the money obtained was laundered through the phenomena. Some defendants, victims, and their lawyers were present at the hearing held at the Küçükçekmece 4th High Criminal Court.

Announcing its verdict at the hearing, the court panel sentenced defendant Eren Koç to 479 years in prison and a 141 million fine for "establishing and managing an organization for the purpose of committing a crime" and "qualified fraud" against 73 people, while ruling that Nihal Candan's ex-boyfriend, defendant Onur Apaydın, be sentenced to 459 years and 7 months in prison and a fine of 143 million 849 thousand 200 TL for the same crimes. On the other hand, while the defendants were acquitted regarding 2 complainants, other defendants were also sentenced to varying terms of imprisonment.

FIRST STATEMENT FROM THE VICTIMS' LAWYER

Lawyer Burak Temizer, representing some of the victims, commented on the verdict: "At this point, as a result of the trial which lasted 17 sessions, involved 37 defendants, and had exactly 73 victims from different provinces of Turkey, it was decided that the defendants be sentenced to prison terms reaching hundreds of years and judicial fines amounting to millions of liras. The organization has defrauded dozens of people of millions of liras at different times with the promise of supposedly procuring vehicles that were seized or confiscated by the state from enforcement offices at low prices. When necessary, the organization members introduced themselves as public officials, for example, as an enforcement officer, and at other times as a bank official. At the same time, the money taken from the victims was sometimes deposited into the accounts of shell companies established for this purpose. Of course, as the other side of the coin, there will be trials in the future regarding the laundering of millions of liras obtained from the crime, in other words, the laundering of proceeds of crime, and further rulings will be made."

FROM THE PROSECUTOR'S OPINION

In the opinion (mütalaa) announced by the Küçükçekmece Public Prosecutor, it was stated that individuals acting within a specific organization to obtain benefits by committing fraud across Istanbul operated through shell companies. In the opinion, it was noted that the individuals first reached out to the complainants through their acquaintances and, after gaining their trust, convinced them by saying that they sold vehicles acquired through tenders from official institutions and organizations such as the Tax Office at a price below market value, through a person they introduced as unit manager Veysel. In the opinion, which also explained that vehicle and price lists were sent to the complainants via WhatsApp and offers were made, it was recorded that an agreement was reached with the complainants who wanted to buy the vehicles they liked from the list sent, and that the individuals ensured that 10 percent of the vehicle price was sent in advance to the account of the shell company stated to be an intermediary company. It was stated that an investigation was launched to uncover the organization's scheme and actions upon allegations that the individuals disappeared with the vehicle and commission fees after taking them in advance and failing to deliver the promised vehicles by making various excuses. While the statements of all victimized citizens were included in the opinion, it was recorded that organization leader Eren Koç was introduced as Veysel or Aydın Bey, the manager, chief, or director of the Tax Office, Customs Administration, or Revenue Administration. The public prosecutor explained the organization's fraud method as follows: “It is explained that vehicles confiscated by the state within the scope of investigations carried out against criminal and terrorist organizations are disposed of at an affordable price by the unit headed by Veysel. The vehicle list is sent to the victim via the WhatsApp application. It is explained to the victim that a vehicle chosen from among the vehicles on the list, which are written with a sale price on average 25 percent below the market price, can be procured using personal relationships with the person codenamed Veysel/Aydın, that for this, the vehicle price and the service fee for this mediation must first be deposited into the company account, and that the vehicle can then be received.” In the opinion, which also explained that the victims then started to wait, the following statements were included: “When the vehicle is not delivered at the end of the determined period and no news is received from the criminal organization members, the victim realizes they have been defrauded. After the project is terminated, victims who try to seek their rights by contacting the network members if necessary are threatened and intimidated by Onur Apaydın and his team.” In the opinion, it was requested that Eren Koç be sentenced to between 400 and 1,328 years in prison for 'establishing and managing a criminal organization' and 66 counts of 'qualified fraud'. While it was requested that defendant Onur Apaydın be sentenced to 2 to 4 years in prison for 'being a member of a criminal organization', it was requested that he be acquitted of fraud charges as there was no definitive and convincing evidence beyond any doubt that he participated in these crimes. On the other hand, it was requested in the opinion that other defendants also be sentenced to varying terms of imprisonment.