Interim ruling announced in 'Çiftlik Bank' case: 'Tosuncuk's' request revealed

The case file involving 20 defendants, including Mehmet Aydın and his brother Fatih Aydın, who were arrested on charges of being the founders of the system publicly known as "Çiftlik Bank," has been sent to the prosecutor's office for the preparation of the final opinion.

At the hearing held at the Anadolu 6th High Criminal Court, the detained defendants Mehmet Aydın and Fatih Aydın participated via the Audio and Video Information System (SEGBİS) from the prisons where they are held.

Speaking during the hearing, Mehmet Aydın stated that according to the expert report, the assets of his companies could more than cover the demands of all victims.

Stating that he has been in detention for three years, Aydın said, "I turned myself in. If I am released to be tried without detention or placed under house arrest, I want to compensate the victims for their losses. According to the expert report, it is established that I did not commit fraud."

Fatih Aydın stated that he reiterated his previous defenses and requested his release.

Mehmet Aydın's lawyer also argued that his client did not act with the intent to defraud and requested that the value of the companies be determined by the court.

Rejecting this request, the court decided to continue the detention of the defendants. The court ruled that the case file be sent to the prosecutor's office for the preparation of the final opinion and adjourned the hearing.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Mehmet Aydın, the founder of the system known as "Çiftlik Bank," which caused many people to become victims with the promise of generating income, and who had been a fugitive for more than two years, was deported by Brazil upon Turkey's request.

Aydın, known by the nickname "Tosuncuk," was detained on the plane at Istanbul Airport on July 3, 2021, and was arrested as part of the investigation launched upon the complaints of 102 victims on charges of "establishing an organization for the purpose of committing a crime," "fraud by using information systems, banks, or credit institutions as a tool," and "fraud by merchants or company managers and cooperative managers."

HE WAS CAPTURED IN URUGUAY AND HANDED OVER TO TURKEY

Fatih Aydın, who was sought as a fugitive as part of the investigation into the "Çiftlik Bank" system on charges of "violation of the Banking Law," "establishing an organization for the purpose of committing a crime," "laundering assets derived from crime," "fraud by using information systems, banks, or credit institutions as a tool," and "fraud by merchants or company managers and cooperative managers," was captured in Uruguay in July 2021.

An extradition request was made for Aydın as part of the investigation conducted by the Anadolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, and the defendant, who was brought to Turkey on November 2, 2021, was arrested by the judgeship.

DEMAND FOR UP TO 85 THOUSAND YEARS IN PRISON

In the 5 separate indictments prepared by the Anadolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the Çiftlik Bank system, prison sentences ranging from 25 thousand 699 years to 85 thousand 646 years are being sought for Mehmet Aydın and Fatih Aydın on the grounds that they victimized 4 thousand 582 people on charges of "establishing and managing an organization for the purpose of committing a crime," "qualified fraud by using information systems as a tool," and "qualified fraud within the scope of commercial company activities."

While prison sentences are also requested for 18 other defendants in addition to the Aydın brothers in the indictments, the Anadolu 6th High Criminal Court, which is conducting the trial of the defendants, had decided to merge the files.

In the expert report to which the court sent the file in previous sessions to determine the losses of the victims, it was noted that some complainants had no losses, while 4 thousand 414 complainants suffered a total loss of 70 million 514 thousand liras.

News Source: AA