New details in Operation Cage! They caused a 12 million loss to the bank with irregular loans

Müslim SARIYAR /12punto.com.tr

Under the coordination of the General Directorate of Security and the Department of Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime, the Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime and Financial Crimes branches of 56 provinces carried out "Operation Cage". While the operations announced by Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya aimed to apprehend 367 suspects, 150 suspects were captured. In the Istanbul leg of the operation, the Istanbul Financial Crimes Investigation Bureau teams carried out significant work.

TRADESMAN SUPPORT PACKAGE

It was stated that the process, which resulted in raids, was related to irregularities at a public bank regarding the 'Tradesman Support Package' within the scope of the Covid-19 pandemic between March 6 and June 12, 2020. According to the allegations, following the decision to provide 25 thousand liras in loans and 25 thousand liras in credit cards for tradesmen, some suspects enabled individuals who were not tradesmen to benefit from this package through irregularities.

FAKE TAX RECORDS

Through the police investigation, it was understood that the identified suspects created retroactive tax records for individuals who were not tradesmen and presented them as tax-paying taxpayers. It was learned that the suspects showed the individuals for whom they created tax records as tradesmen and enabled them to receive loans from the bank. It was determined that the individuals who received loans paid a commission to the suspects for this transaction.

12 MILLION LOSS

In the investigations, it was also determined that the suspects acted like a criminal organization. 22 suspects, including bank employees, were identified. It was learned that the loss incurred is 12 million liras at the current exchange rate.

17 SUSPECTS APPREHENDED

In the operation carried out by police teams in the morning hours, 17 of the 22 suspects were apprehended. It was learned that the suspects will be processed for the crimes of "Establishing an Organization for the Purpose of Committing Crimes" and "Ensuring the Opening of a Loan That Should Not Have Been Allocated by a Bank or Other Credit Institution". While efforts to apprehend the five remaining suspects continue, it was stated that the processing of the suspects is ongoing.

News Source : Müslim Sarıyar