05.03.2025 15:50
An indictment has been prepared against 62 suspects, including Mehmet Deniz Karakurt, the currently detained Director of the Edirne Smuggling and Organized Crime Prevention Branch, who is alleged to have assisted Turan Yıldırım, claimed to be a member of the 'Sarallar' criminal organization, in fleeing abroad, as well as Burak Yakın, the owner of Nadir Metal, Fikret Aydog, the owner of Fiko Ocakbaşı, and Kenan Koçak, the husband of singer Merve Özbey.
"Sarallar" organized crime group, which is alleged to have been active in, and for which a warrant has been issued for the arrest of member Turan Yıldırım, has been investigated by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office Organized Crimes Investigation Bureau. The investigation has been completed regarding Edirne's third-class police chief Mehmet Deniz Karakurt and singer Merve Özbey's husband Kenan Koçak, who are accused of aiding Yıldırım in fleeing abroad.
The 248-page indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office Organized Crimes Investigation Bureau includes 62 suspects, among them organized crime leader İlyas Saral, kebab shop owner Fikret Aydoğdu, Nadir Metal owner Burak Yakın, Edirne Smuggling and Organized Crime Department Head Deniz Karakurt, and contractor Kenan Koçak, who is the husband of singer Merve Özbey, as well as 4 complainants and 2 victims.
The indictment states that the leader of the organization is İlyas Saral, while Sebahattin Azizağaoğlu, Talat Saral, Hüsnü Kerem Şen, and Savaş Sarmusak are identified as executives. In the indictment, Ahmet Akgül and Ceyhun Göksun are listed as victims, while businessman Abdullah Taşkın and his wife Reyhan Taşkın, as well as Erkan Güdücü and his wife Zeynep Güdücü, are listed as complainants. The indictment details the structure of the criminal organization and includes 16 different actions.
It is described in the indictment that complainant Abdullah Taşkın was threatened with death under the pretext that he had incurred losses from the organization members' shares, that they demanded money, and that he was held at gunpoint. It is alleged that the organization members prepared a power of attorney in the way they wanted, transferring Taşkın's 500 million worth of real estate to themselves.
REQUEST FOR UP TO 11 YEARS IN PRISON FOR BURAK YAKIN
The indictment also includes Burak Yakın, the owner of Nadir Metal, and Fiko Ocakbaşı's owner Fikret Aydog as suspects. It was learned that 8 million 200 thousand lira was sent to Burak Yakın's account, and this money was taken from complainant Abdullah Taşkın under the pretext of 1 million dollars in foreign currency by fugitive organization member Turan Yıldırım. Furthermore, it was recorded that Yakın threatened victim Ahmet Akgül regarding the remaining amount of approximately 4 million dollars he had lent through his company, saying, "They are our friends. I told them." Yakın is facing a request for up to 11 years in prison for "Threat" and "Being a member of an organization established for committing crimes."
21 YEARS IN PRISON REQUESTED FOR FIKRET AYDOĞDU
It was stated in the indictment that Fikret Aydoğdu, the owner of Fiko Ocakbaşı, brought complainant Abdullah Taşkın to his restaurant, and after taking him to a private room, he came to the restaurant with organization member Ali Uğur Uzun and his associates to assault Taşkın. The indictment requests up to 21 years in prison for Aydoğdu for "Being a member of an organization established for committing crimes" and "Qualified robbery."
POLICE CHIEF AND KENAN KOÇAK TO BE TRIED FOR HUMAN SMUGGLING
The indictment emphasized that singer Merve Özbey's husband Kenan Koçak and Deniz Karakurt played a leading role in the escape of suspect Turan Yıldırım abroad. It was stated that Karakurt facilitated the transfer of fugitive Turan from one place to another within the country, and Koçak both sheltered him and assisted in his escape. Kenan Koçak and Deniz Karakurt are facing requests for up to 27 years in prison for "Concealing a criminal," "Human smuggling," and "Knowingly and willingly aiding the organization."
RED NOTICE FOR TURAN YILDIRIM'S ARREST
The indictment noted that various prison sentences were requested for the other suspects for different crimes. Additionally, it was emphasized that there is a red notice for the arrest of fugitive Turan Yıldırım.