CHP's Başarır speaks to 12punto on the fake diploma scandal: 'This is a national security issue. Prosecutors must act'

SİNEM NAZLI DEMİR

Turkey is being rocked by a fake diploma ring scandal. Of the 197 individuals detained in the Ankara-based investigation, 37 have been arrested while judicial supervision orders were issued for 150 others. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced that 57 fake diplomas, 108 fake driving licences, and 4 fake high school graduation certificates had been identified.

A case has been filed against 65 suspects identified as members of the organised structure. The suspects, who are alleged to have issued hundreds of fake diplomas by gaining unauthorised access to public institution systems, face prison sentences ranging from 5 to 50 years.

The fake diplomas were priced between 250 thousand TL and 2.5 million TL, and some payments were made in cryptocurrency. According to the suspects' statements, at least 400 academics were irregularly appointed to universities through this method.

'IN THE LAST 4 YEARS WE SUBMITTED MOTIONS 3–4 TIMES AND THEY WERE REJECTED!'

CHP Deputy Group Chair Ali Mahir Başarır, speaking to 12punto about the fake diploma scandal, noted that a motion submitted to parliament four years ago to investigate the matter was rejected:

"All of this needs to be examined by a commission. In the last 4 years we submitted motions 3–4 times — I submitted one myself. But they did not investigate them. We submitted motions for fake diplomas to be investigated, and those were rejected. We will investigate all of this; this affair has very large dimensions."

'THERE ARE TRANSFERS OF PUBLIC LAND, THERE IS SCORE MANIPULATION AT ÖSYM'

Başarır, who said the matter is a national security issue, stated that they will continue their work to expose the fraudulent activities:

"There are transfers of public and treasury land. The most alarming is that they inflated ÖSYM scores. Someone scored 400 points and they pushed it up to 450. No information in the e-government system has remained secure. By obtaining these passwords they are transferring title deeds into their own names. If diploma security in a country is in question… I mean, when people apply for a job, can those diplomas be handed to them? Can a state be governed like this? This is a national security issue."

'PROSECUTORS MUST ACT'

CHP's Başarır concluded his remarks by calling on prosecutors and parliament to act:

"A commission must convene every month and parliament must investigate this matter. Prosecutors must act. All of these fraudulent acts must be exposed and the state must be cleansed of these dirty affairs."

News Source: 12punto