13.10.2026 15:36
In the usury network that allegedly directed tradesmen who could not obtain loans from banks in Eskişehir to suspects appearing as a gallery, the total debt claim has reached 80-90 million lira. Lawyer Tenzile Samut said that 1.5 million lira was given and 5.5 million lira was collected, and that she and her clients had received threats of burning shops, shooting, and kidnapping family members. The investigation is ongoing at KOM.
In Eskişehir, in the organized loan-sharking network targeting tradespeople experiencing financial difficulties and unable to find bank loans, the debt cycle has reached a huge scale of 90 million liras. The tradespeople victimized through fictitious vehicle trading and high-interest promissory notes, along with Lawyer Tenzile Samut, who is following the case, are fighting for justice, stating that they were subjected to severe threats and pressure throughout the process.
In the organized loan-sharking case alleged to have been ongoing for a long time in Eskişehir, a huge debt spiral amounting to a total of 80-90 million liras, established by taking advantage of the economic desperation of tradespeople, has come to light. According to information provided by victimized tradespeople and their lawyers, tradespeople who cannot access credit are directed to suspects operating under the guise of a car gallery. Initially, cash sums presented as low-interest are given, and then debts are multiplied and increased under the pretext of daily disruptions. It is stated that in return for 1.5 million TL in cash, 5.5 million liras were collected; in return for 3.5 million liras, payments reaching 10 million liras were collected; and in return for a promissory note of 1.2 million liras, 12 million liras were demanded. It is emphasized that as the number of victims increases, total claim allegations have reached the 80-90 million lira range. It is stated that the notes that were paid and said to have been destroyed are excluded, and new collateral notes are demanded through enforcement and seizure proceedings.
SEIZURE PRESSURE UNDER THE GUISE OF A LAWYER
It is stated that some individuals going to seizure locations introduce themselves as lawyers and, also deceiving officials at the enforcement office, put pressure on tradespeople. It is recorded that additional payments under the name of attorney fees and new collateral notes worth millions of liras were taken from tradespeople who fear their goods being removed. The lawyer handling the case, Tenzile Samut, and the victimized tradespeople say that throughout the process they were subjected to severe threats through phone calls, messages, and people sent in person. It was also reported that, in addition to threats such as burning shops, shooting, and kidnapping family members, smear campaigns were carried out against the lawyer. It is stated that due to intense pressures and threats, some victims had to withdraw their complaints. On the other hand, lawyer Samut's request for a protection order for herself due to the threats was rejected by the court.
INVESTIGATION CONTINUES AT KOM
It was stated that the first complaint was filed about a year ago, and that three to four months ago, with the merging of the files, it became clear how serious the fraud had become. While the investigation continues at the Eskişehir Police Department's Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime (KOM) Branch Directorate, it is noted that the number of victims and the total debt burden in Eskişehir and surrounding provinces are gradually increasing.
SEVERE THREATS AGAINST THE LAWYER
In her statement regarding the case, Lawyer Tenzile Samut described the operation of the organized structure and the pressures they were subjected to with the following words:
"To put it briefly, it is an organized loan-sharking case file; it contains a thousand and one kinds of crimes. I have about 8 clients, but 18 people appear in the file. There are also those who, when it comes to the point of complaining, are threatened and withdraw. Those victimized are generally tradespeople. People who cannot access credit are unfortunately ensnared in the network of loan sharks under the guise of a car gallery. It is a process that continues with people introducing themselves as lawyers looting at seizure locations.
Teams that find people experiencing money problems among tradespeople direct them to these suspects. At first, money is given at low interest, then it is multiplied many times over. 1.5 million was given and 5.5 million was taken; 3.5 million was given and 10 million was taken. Since they record the receipts of the money sent as debt, they put both the receipts and the notes in their possession into enforcement. They go saying, 'We are helping you,' and 8 million liras in collateral notes are supposedly reduced to 6 million under the guise of kindness. People who are not lawyers come to the seizure location and introduce themselves to enforcement officers as lawyers. So that goods are not removed, notes or payments are made to these people under the name of attorney fees. Interest is applied on top of the normal debt and extra collateral notes are taken. The tradesperson cannot get out of the debt quagmire. My clients and I are threatened day and night by calls and messages. Everything was done to make me withdraw from this case. Slander was thrown, I was threatened through my family, a man was sent. The amount of receivables that reached me amounts to 30-40 million liras. From one client, a note worth around 1 million 200 thousand TL was taken, and in return 12 million is demanded. When totaled, the debt amount reaches 80-90 million liras. Our file is under investigation by the police, at KOM."
THEY DEMANDED A 12 MILLION LIRA PROMISSORY NOTE
A victim who has been a tradesperson in Eskişehir for 6 years, regarding the debt spiral he experienced and the threats he faced, said: "I got involved with loan sharks under the guise of fictitious car trading due to financial difficulties and my inability to find a loan from banks. Initially, I received money in installments against promissory notes amounting to around 3.5 to 4 million liras. Although I repaid these moneys with an amount exceeding 10 million, my debt somehow never ended. My debt was constantly increased by using daily disruptions as an excuse. The notes that were normally paid and destroyed by burning were excluded. They demanded new collateral notes worth 12 million liras from me. When I did not sign, they brought out the old notes and put them into enforcement and seizure. We have been fighting legally for about 3-4 months. I, my spouse, my child, and my lawyer are receiving severe threats in the form of burning shops, shooting, attacking, and kidnapping family members. Despite applying to the police station and prosecutor's office many times, we have not yet obtained a result. They freely roam near my business and even send severe insults and threats to my staff," he said.