First Dilan-Engin Polat, now Bahar-Nihal Candan! Allegations that they are the secret safes of a criminal organization using the 'Carp Spiral' method

Following the arrest of influencer Dilan Polat and her husband Engin Polat for money laundering and various other crimes, all eyes have turned to other influencers. 

Most recently, a striking allegation has been made regarding sisters Bahar Candan and Nihal Candan, who rose to fame on a fashion program.

According to a report by journalist Timur Soykan from BirGün, it is alleged that the Candan sisters are the secret safes of an organization that uses the Carp Spiral method.

Here is Soykan's report:

ALLEGATION OF A SECRET SAFE

According to a criminal complaint filed with the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, sisters Bahar and Nihal Candan were members of a criminal organization that defrauded many people using the Carp Spiral method. The complaint even alleged that Nihal Candan was the girlfriend of the gang leader and that she, along with Bahar Candan, served as the organization's secret safes.

THE SPIRAL REACHED KARS

The criminal complaint filed on September 26, 2023, included 3 complainants and 25 victims. According to the allegation, a doctor born in Kars named Refik E. E., who has a clinic in Istanbul, sent a list of vehicles via WhatsApp to an acquaintance named Hacı İsrafil S. He claimed that these vehicles were fleet vehicles seized from bankrupt companies and that the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) and tax offices were selling them 30-40 percent cheaper than the market price. According to the scammers' scenario, one person could purchase a maximum of three vehicles. A company had been established for this purpose, and a 10 percent service fee was collected from those who wanted to buy vehicles. Anyone wishing to purchase a vehicle had to send the full amount 21 days in advance. The company also accepted trade-ins. According to the allegation, Hacı İsrafil S. registered his name for a vehicle worth 1.5 million TL in October 2022. Trusting Refik E.E. because he was a doctor, he sent the full amount.

COMMISSION DETAIL

A week later, Dr. Refik E. E. called him, saying, "The car is ready, come and pick it up." Hacı İsrafil E., who came to Istanbul, was introduced to a person named Kaan Hamzaoğlu as the owner of the company. He was dazzled by dinners at luxury restaurants and meetings at hotels. According to Hacı İsrafil S.'s statement, it was explained that the vehicle trading business would continue until the New Year and that everyone could make a lot of money. Hacı İsrafil S. was offered a commission if he could convince people close to him to buy vehicles without spreading the word too much.

Many people from Hacı İsrafil S.'s relatives and social circle in Kars registered their names to buy vehicles or make trade-ins. In the initial period, vehicles were delivered without any problems, and trust was established. In reality, they were waiting for demand to increase and for the target amount of money to be reached. During this time, more than 20 requests were made, and some had transferred their cars and houses to the company for trade-ins.

BAHAR CANDAN WAS ALSO AT THE DINNER

Meanwhile, Ömer K. and Nesim A. had also entered the spiral along with Hacı İsrafil S. They had first received their vehicles through trade-ins and then registered for new vehicles and sent money. According to their statements, while having dinner at luxury restaurants in districts like Etiler and Bebek in Istanbul with Kaan Hamzaoğlu, who claimed to be the company manager, there were people who claimed to be doctors, lawyers, and police officers. According to the criminal complaint, the complainant Hacı İsrafil S. stated that at a dinner at the Tepsi Et Restaurant in Etiler, in addition to Kaan Hamzaoğlu and Dr. Refik E.E., Bahar Candan, who is famous for fashion programs and displays her flashy life on social media, was also present. Hacı İsrafil S. and the other complainant, Ömer K., explained that they met Bahar Candan's older sister, social media influencer Nihal Candan, at another dinner. Furthermore, the people in the organization had claimed that criminal organization leader Ümit Saral was also involved in this business.

The gang had now reached the point where it was ready to collect the 'Carp Spiral'. The gang members did not deliver the cars, and some of the cars that were delivered were stopped in traffic, revealing that they belonged to a rental company. The gang members changed their phone numbers and disappeared. According to the criminal complaint, more than 20 victims from Kars alone were defrauded of a total of 30 million TL.

THE GANG LEADER WAS ALSO AT THE DINNER!

According to the criminal complaint, when the complainants went after their money and cars, they learned that the person who introduced himself as 'Kaan Hamzaoğlu' was actually Orhan Apaydın. Orhan Apaydın had previously come to the agenda with a 'Carp Spiral' operation. In the indictment prepared by the Istanbul Küçükçekmece Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, Orhan Apaydın, who was accused of being an organization manager, was alleged to have defrauded 54 people using the same method. Orhan Apaydın, for whom a 1088-year prison sentence was requested for defrauding 54 people, had not been caught.

THEY PLAYED AN ACTIVE ROLE IN INSTILLING TRUST

In the criminal complaint, it was alleged that influencer Nihal Candan was Orhan Apaydın's girlfriend. It was also stated:

"A few months after our clients entered this trade, Bahar Candan shared on her Instagram account one morning that 12 million TL had been transferred to her account. She tried to create a perception that she had also been deceived. However, she and her sister Nihal Candan are the secret safes of the organized crime group... Many well-known names such as doctors, lawyers, police officers, and social media influencers Bahar Candan and Nihal Candan play an active role in order to instill trust in the target victims."

30 MILLION TL HEIST

Meanwhile, victims who wanted their money back and were able to reach the gang were allegedly threatened. Orhan Apaydın was caught for another crime after a while and placed in Istanbul Paşakapısı Prison. He was arrested on May 25, 2023, in the Carp Spiral case in Küçükçekmece. The number of complainants in the case, which started with 54 victims in Küçükçekmece, has been increasing for months. Some victims, who were stalled by being told their money would be paid, are now filing criminal complaints as they lose hope. These investigations are being merged with the case in Küçükçekmece. The number of complainants in the case has risen to 67 with new applications from provinces such as Adana and Sivas. With this latest criminal complaint, the number of those who fell into the Carp Spiral will approach 100. It is estimated that the gang, which made a 30 million TL heist in Kars alone, has seized hundreds of millions of TL.

The people who were in the Carp Spiral extending from Istanbul to Kars and who are complainants had also convinced people to buy vehicles. They claim that they were also trapped, but there are also those who accuse them. The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office Bureau of Terrorism and Organized Crime Investigation launched an investigation after the criminal complaint. This investigation will reveal whether the allegations are true. Perhaps dirty money will continue to gush out from the flashy lives in front of the eyes of millions of people.

News Source: 12punto