Breaking News: 5 more detained in Erhan Karaal investigation

New detentions have taken place in the investigation launched into the kidnapping of IBB Kültür A.Ş. Deputy General Manager Erhan Karaal.

In the case file where 12 people had previously been detained, 5 more suspects were apprehended as part of the ongoing efforts.

6 PEOPLE HAD BEEN ARRESTED

Of the 12 people detained as part of the investigation, 6 were arrested, while 6 were released under judicial control conditions.

NEW DETAILS IN THE INVESTIGATION

On the other hand, new details regarding the investigation have been reached.

According to the exclusive report by Habertürk reporter Mustafa Şekeroğlu, following the arrest of 6 of the 12 suspects, teams from the Public Security Branch Office's Robbery Bureau continued their work targeting individuals considered to be involved in the organization of the incident. Examinations conducted as part of the investigation revealed that two separate vehicles were used during the kidnapping of Erhan Karaal.

THEY TRIED TO COVER THEIR TRACKS BY CHANGING VEHICLES

According to information obtained by the police, the suspects, who forced Karaal into a vehicle, switched to a second vehicle after arriving in the Kayışdağı area. It is believed that the suspects aimed to evade pursuit and cover their tracks using this method.

NIGHT OPERATION ON A VILLA IN KOCAELİ

The Robbery Bureau teams deepened their work on the key figures of the investigation. It was determined that a group of four, including two of the individuals who introduced themselves as police officers to Karaal in security camera footage and kidnapped him by saying, “We are taking you to the Vatan Branch,” were hiding in a villa in the Çağırkan village of Kocaeli. Following this, an operation was carried out during the night hours.

KEY FIGURES DETAINED

During the operation, Sedat A., Abdülkadir B., Ümit A., and Mazlum B., who were stated to be among the important names in the investigation, were detained. Footage of the moments the suspects, who were determined to be hiding by constantly changing addresses, were apprehended has also emerged.

DETERMINED THEY CAME FROM DİYARBAKIR

In the ongoing examinations, it was determined that three of the four apprehended suspects had records for various crimes. Furthermore, it was established that the suspects came from Diyarbakır to carry out the kidnapping act. The scope of the investigation has been expanded.

“THEY DEMANDED 300 KILOS OF GOLD”

Erhan Karaal, who gave his statement the previous day, explained that the people who kidnapped him beat him with sticks and demanded 300 kilos of gold.

In his statement, he said, “They told me that I was the 'safe' for former IBB manager Serdal Taşkın and Ekrem İmamoğlu, and demanded 300 kilos of gold from me. I met Serdal Taşkın when I started working at IBB, and I have no connection with him outside of work. When I said I didn't have that kind of money, they tortured me and said, 'You will give that money.'”

“YOU WILL GIVE THE 500 KILOS OF GOLD HIDDEN”

Continuing his statement, Karaal said they continued to beat him, saying, “You will give the 500 kilos of gold that Serdal Taşkın hid in Erzincan.” Karaal stated, “At this point, I said I have 2-3 million that I saved for my children, let me give that to you. Upon this, they continued to beat me, saying, 'We will give you 2 million for that money.'”

“I CAN IDENTIFY A FEW OF THEIR FACES”

Karaal said, “They took me to a place like a sewer and continued to beat me. There, they tied my eyes and hands, put me in the trunk of a vehicle, and took me to the place where the police found me. There were 3-4 people there. Two people were constantly waiting over me. They pulled my nails and continued to beat me with sticks and iron bars. They usually covered their faces, and because they pressed my head between my legs, I couldn't see all of their faces. However, I saw the faces of a few and I can identify them.”

IDENTIFIED FROM PHOTOGRAPHS

Examining eight photographs shown to him, Karaal said that three of them belonged to IBB employees, but he did not know if they had any connection to the kidnapping incident.

Karaal stated that the individuals in photographs 1 and 2 were two of the four people who introduced themselves as police and forced him into the vehicle, and that he saw the individuals in photographs 3, 4, and 5 within the organization during the time he was held captive. It was learned that the first two people identified by Karaal were among the four suspects caught in the night operation.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing.

News Source: 12punto