The Daltons challenged the Police: 'Will the police save you?'

Utku BEYCAN 12punto EXCLUSIVE

Operating in Istanbul, the Dalton Gang made its presence felt through armed threats and attacks in a wide range of areas, from debt disputes to hotel construction projects. Messages from one of the gang's leaders, Bünyamin Yıkar, challenging the police were reflected in the indictment. 

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has completed the indictment against the Dalton Gang, led by Beratcan Gökdemir. In the 1,676-page indictment, alongside the crimes committed by the organization, messages from gang leader Bünyamin Yıkar challenging the police were also included. 

''YOU CAN GO TO ANY POLICE STATION YOU WANT''

Y.K., who buys and sells cars, could not pay a 10 million lira debt owed to a person named S.K. S.K. called Y.K.'s family and threatened them with death. A while later, gang leader Bünyamin Yıkar, who introduced himself as Robin Dalton, called Y.K. on the phone and said the following:

"You can go to any police station you want. We know where your family and your child are. We know you, we will kill you." 

While gang members were attempting to shoot up the workplace of Y.K.'s brother, M.K., they accidentally shot at the business right next door. A property owner named F.Ç.Ç. also had problems with A.B., who was renting his property. A.B., who carried out an armed attack, was arrested. After A.B.'s detention ended and he was released from prison, a message was sent to F.Ç.Ç.'s phone. The message, which also included the personal information and addresses of F.Ç.Ç. and his family, read as follows: 

"You can reach any police station or any person you want, no problem. We will carry out an action for every person you reach." 

'GO TO VATAN POLICE HEADQUARTERS AND ASK FOR CAN DALTON' 

According to the indictment, the complainant H.K. was called by Bünyamin Yıkar from a foreign-origin number. Yıkar, who introduced himself as the brother of gang leader Beratcan Gökdemir, nicknamed Can Dalton, told H.K. that they had imposed a 25 million lira fine on him, saying, "Go to Vatan Police Headquarters and ask for Can Dalton. 

No one can help you," he said. After H.K. did not pay any money, the family's businesses were shot at and bombed. Following the shooting, Yıkar sent a message to H.K.'s phone saying, "you can go to the police now, I will take a life from you." 

'WILL THE POLICE SAVE YOU?' 

Yıkar, who also called a business owner named O.Z. from a Greek-origin number and introduced himself as Can Dalton, told O.Z. that a 10 million lira fine had been imposed on him. O.Z.'s business was shot at after he failed to make the payment. Threatening him over the phone after the shooting, Yıkar told O.Z. that he could go to the police, adding, "next time we will take your life." Angered by O.Z.'s attempt to involve intermediaries and continuing his threats, Yıkar said in a phone conversation with O.Z., "will the police save you, or will the police catch me just because you give them a name?" 

A total of four armed attacks were carried out on O.Z.'s business and home. The gang members, who also reached out to O.Z.'s father, "tell your son he has fled, we have located your place and are waiting for the holiday to end" sent the message. 

THEY KNEW THE POLICE WERE PRESENT 

Iranian businessman and hotel chain owner H.T. contracted with builder Viktor Schmelzle for the construction of a hotel in Germany. A dispute over debts arose between the two. Some time later, a threatening letter was left at the door of H.T.'s office in Beşiktaş by gang members. 

The phone number written in the letter was called under the supervision of the police who arrived at the office. According to H.T.'s statement, the organization leader Beratcan Gökdemir and organization manager Sinan Memi, who were on the phone, stated that they knew the police were present and that the police knew them well. 

The threats continued afterward. Bünyamin Yıkar, who introduced himself as Robin Dalton, called H.T., and the workplace was shot at. 

THEY RECEIVED NEWS OF THE RAID 

Former gang member M.U., who benefited from effective remorse provisions, provided detailed information in his statement. M.U. stated that he met the organization after seeing his colleague U.G. talking on social media with Bünyamin Yıkar, nicknamed Bünyamin Kaçak, and that the organization used the Signal app for communication. He added that Yıkar promised to take them abroad if they participated in armed attacks on behalf of the organization.

M.U. also mentioned the organization's safe houses, explaining that they learned of a planned police raid on the house they were staying in in Esenyurt and vacated the property. According to the statement, the gang members staying in the safe house moved to another villa in Beylikdüzü. When a gang member in this villa started a live broadcast on social media, those watching recognized the villa and warned the gang that the owners were cooperating with the police. This villa was also vacated on the same day.

News Source: 12punto