31.03.2026 14:10
In the fraud case involving 21 defendants, where Bahar Candan faces up to 44 years and her sister Nihal Candan faces up to 24 years in prison for membership in a fraud and criminal organization, the court announced its decision, sentencing the organization leader Onur Apaydın to 231 years, 8 months, and 20 days in prison. The court ruled that the unarrested defendant Bahar Candan would be punished with 2 years and 6 months in prison, and the case against the deceased Nihal Candan was dismissed.
In the fraud case involving 21 defendants, where Bahar Candan faces up to 44 years in prison for being a member of a criminal organization and fraud, and her sister Nihal Candan faces up to 24 years, the court announced its decision, sentencing the organization leader Onur Apaydın to 231 years, 8 months, and 20 days in prison. It was decided to punish the defendant Bahar Candan, who is not in custody, with 2 years and 6 months in prison, and to dismiss the case against the deceased Nihal Candan.
A decision hearing was held in the case of the gang, which is accused of defrauding citizens by claiming to sell vehicles cheaply under the leadership of Onur Apaydın and İlker Oflu, with 2 of the 21 defendants in custody. During the hearing at the 5th Heavy Criminal Court of Küçükçekmece, the detained defendants Onur Apaydın and İlker Oflu, who are alleged to be the organization leaders, were connected via the Audio and Visual Information System (SEGBİS). The complainant Bayram Serkan Zağlı and some of the defendants not in custody were also present in the courtroom. The defendant Bahar Candan, who is not in custody, did not attend the hearing.
"I BECAME PART OF THE FILE WITH THE NAME OF ONE PERSON"
The complainant Bayram Serkan Zağlı, when asked for his final statement, said, "My complaint continues, my damages have not been compensated to date, I request the punishment of the defendants."
The detained defendant and organization leader İlker Oflu, when asked for his last words, stated, "I have been in custody for about two years, I am a victim due to this case, I request my release. I have health problems, I am a hypertension patient, I request this to be taken into consideration. I became part of the file with the name of a few people who wanted to get out of prison."
The detained organization leader Onur Apaydın, in his final words, said, "I have reviewed the expert report, it is clear in the report that Ömer Şeker directed the parties and put them under pressure. I request a criminal complaint to be filed, I have nothing else to say at this stage."
231 YEARS 8 MONTHS PRISON SENTENCE FOR THE ORGANIZATION LEADER
The court panel announced its decision, sentencing the detained organization leader Onur Apaydın to 231 years, 8 months, and 20 days in prison for the crimes of 'establishing and managing an organization for the purpose of committing crimes' and 'qualified fraud'. The panel decided to acquit and release the detained defendant İlker Oflu, who is alleged to be the organization manager, for the crime of 'being a member of an organization established for the purpose of committing crimes' with a sentence of 2 years and 6 months, and for 35 separate fraud crimes, due to the lack of conclusive and credible evidence beyond all doubt.
DECISION TO DISMISS THE CASE AGAINST NİHAL CANDAN
The court ruled that the defendant Alisya Bahar Candan, who is not in custody, should be punished with 2 years and 6 months in prison for the crime of 'being a member of an organization established for the purpose of committing crimes'. The panel also ruled for the acquittal of the defendants Ayhan Güldan, Ömer Çapan, and Şahin Baran for all the charges against them.
Furthermore, the court panel decided to dismiss the case against Nihal Candan, who passed away on June 21, 2025, due to an illness and was being tried without detention, on the grounds of her death. The panel also ruled for the other defendants to be sentenced to varying terms of imprisonment.
FROM THE INDICTMENT
The indictment prepared by the Küçükçekmece Chief Public Prosecutor's Office included 38 complainants, 1 complainant suspect, and 21 defendants, including Nihal and Bahar Candan. It was also stated in the indictment that the detained Gülnihal Çiçek was released under judicial control, taking into account the time spent in detention. The indictment mentioned that the network led by Onur Apaydın and İlker Oflu defrauded citizens by claiming to sell vehicles cheaply using the bait-and-switch method. It was recorded in the indictment that Bahar and Nihal Candan were part of the hierarchical and organic structure of the criminal organization. The indictment further stated, "Nihal and Bahar Candan had participated in various television programs for a long time on previous dates, and after becoming famous, they also appeared in gossip programs, reaching a large number of followers on social media platforms, thus being referred to as social media phenomena and faces, and therefore being recognized by a wide segment of society, and due to this characteristic, they played an active role in deceiving victims in special meetings organized by the criminal organization for fraudulent activities." It was also stated in the indictment that the organization leader Onur Apaydın conducted banking activities through Alisya Bahar Candan, who was in the position of 'secret accountant and cash' within the organization, and that the proceeds of crime were laundered. Additionally, the suspect Hacı İsrafil Sağlam, who was responsible for obtaining victims, stated in his testimony included in the indictment that he attended organization meetings, saying, "Everyone from the upper level attended the meetings. Field workers and lower-level personnel could never attend. Everyone in the upper management of the organization participated. I saw Nihal Candan at two of the meetings. Nihal Candan was the girlfriend of the organization leader Onur Apaydın. Other individuals showed respect to Nihal Candan and behaved distantly. Topics related to the internal workings of the organization were discussed in the presence of Nihal Candan regarding vehicle buying and selling." The indictment stated that Bahar Candan was charged with 'being a member of a criminal organization' with a sentence of 2 to 4 years, and for the crime of 'defrauding by presenting oneself as a public official or as an employee of banks, insurance, or credit institutions, or by claiming to be related to these institutions and organizations', she faced a sentence of 2 times 12 years to 40 years, totaling 14 to 44 years in prison, while Nihal Candan faced a request for punishment of 8 to 24 years for the same crimes. Additionally, varying terms of imprisonment were requested for the other 20 suspects. Bahar Candan was released during the hearing held on September 20, 2024.