Release decision in the Seçil Erzan case in İzmir: Currency exchange office owner released

A new Seçil Erzan-style case has occurred at the Denizbank Bornova Branch. Denizbank Bornova Branch Manager Hatice Özalp, who was a member of the Board of Directors of Karşıyaka Sports Club and the Head of the Karşıyaka Infrastructure Basketball Branch at the time, allegedly collected approximately 300 million TL from 3 club executives and 7 business people under the guise of investing in funds and gold with promises of high returns. However, it is alleged that Özalp did not invest the money in funds or purchase gold, but instead sent the money to currency exchange office owner Serkan Çelik. 

According to the allegations, Özalp sent money to the people she collected funds from as they needed it from time to time, but after a while, the business people realized they had been defrauded. The victims reported the situation to police teams and filed a complaint against Özalp.

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE

According to DHA reports, while the police launched an investigation into the incident, a detention warrant was issued on June 27, 2024, for Özalp, who is alleged to have defrauded hundreds of people in a similar manner. The police teams, who initiated a search, determined that Özalp had attempted suicide by taking a large number of pills at her home. The teams determined that Hatice Özalp had been taken for treatment at İzmir City Hospital, where she went out of regret following her suicide attempt.

ASSETS SEIZED

Within the scope of the investigation, bank employee E.Y., as well as Serkan Çelik, to whom Özalp allegedly sent the money, and currency exchange office employee A.A. were also detained. Among the suspects, Serkan Çelik was arrested, while the other 2 individuals were released with a travel ban. Additionally, searches were conducted at the currency exchange office, the Denizbank Bornova Branch, and certain other addresses. The assets of Hatice Özalp and Serkan Çelik were seized.

Hatice Özalp, who was discharged from the hospital, was arrested on July 12 at the courthouse where she was referred. In her statement, saying that she was a victim of the failures in the commercial work and transactions that her family members entered into after her father's death, Özalp stated the following:

'I PREPARED FICTITIOUS DOCUMENTS TO CONVINCE CUSTOMERS'

"I tried to close the debts my family members took on with more debt, but I could not close the debts I took in foreign currency and gold due to fluctuations in exchange rates. I prepared fictitious documents to convince the customers. Out of desperation, I used the savings and deposits of the customers who believed in me with the intention of returning them later, but when the customers turned to interest in the recent period, I fell into payment difficulties. I prepared fictitious documents to convince my customers that their money was in the investment vehicles they wanted.

'I SPENT A LOT OF MONEY ON OBESITY AND AESTHETIC SURGERIES'

I printed my customers' account books on the printer in my home, showing the blank account books at the bank as if they had been destroyed. Thus, it appeared as if their own instructions had been carried out. The signatures on the account books belong to me. During this process, I had obesity and aesthetic surgeries. I spent a lot of money on these. I felt great shame after the incident came to light and I wanted to kill myself. I attempted suicide. I still have not been able to recover myself"

News Source: 12punto