Major scam through citizenship! Allegations that 'the Land Registry Director knew, the prosecutor's office remained silent'

According to a report by Halk TV writer İsmail Saymaz, an organized structure operated between 2019 and 2023, enabling foreign nationals to obtain Turkish citizenship through forged documents.

It was determined that the network used forged e-signatures, unrealistic bank receipts, and misleading real estate valuation reports. By selling apartments that were still in the project phase to foreigners as if they were high-value properties, this structure made it appear as though the 400,000-dollar investment requirement for citizenship had been met on paper.

DOCUMENTED IN 2021 BUT REMAINED SILENT

It emerged that the irregularities were first detected in 2021 by the 4th Regional Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre in Bursa. Çınarcık Land Registry Director Ayhan Bayhan sent an official letter to the police and the prosecutor's office on June 7, 2021, stating that "the valuation reports did not belong to the issuing firms and that an attempt at forgery had been made."

However, the prosecutor's office did not take action despite these reports. Surprisingly, Land Registry Director Bayhan continued in his post and kept approving these irregular sales.

"HE OFFERED US A SCHOLARSHIP, SENT MONEY" DEFENSE

Ayhan Bayhan used remarkable expressions in his defense. He stated that an individual named Ceylan, who is alleged to be one of the leaders of the network, met his daughters in the directorate's garden and said he wanted to give them a scholarship. Bayhan said, "He sent money once without my permission."

Bayhan also argued the following:

"They exaggerated this business a bit. As land registry officials, it is not right for us to comment on the value of real estate. It is out of the question for me to check and reject them."

FAKE RECEIPTS SURFACED IN 2022

The irregularities became visible from a different point in 2022. It was determined that some bank receipts submitted to the Kaynarca Land Registry Office were fake. The Kaynarca Chief Public Prosecutor's Office determined that sales were also made in Çınarcık using similar methods. Upon this, an instruction was given to "find out from the banks whether the receipts are genuine or not."

In an official letter sent to the Yalova Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on January 16, 2023, Bayhan clearly stated that "the receipts were not issued by the banks."