22.06.2026 18:00
After the kidnapping of Erhan Karaal, Deputy General Manager of IBB Culture Inc., from in front of his home, 12 people, including 2 women, who were taken into custody have been referred to the courthouse. In his statement, Erhan Karaal said, "They forced me into a vehicle, saying they would take me to the police station. They took me to a place like a cistern. There were 7-8 people inside. They beat me with sticks and said that I was the safe-keeper of former IBB manager Serdal Taşkın and Ekrem İmamoğlu, demanding 300 kilograms of gold from me."
İBB Kültür A.Ş. Deputy General Manager Erhan Karaal was abducted from in front of his home, and following the incident, 12 suspects, including 2 women, were detained and referred to the courthouse. In his statement, Erhan Karaal said, 'They told me they would take me to Vatan Security and forced me into a vehicle. Inside the vehicle, they pushed my head down between my legs. They took me to a place like a cistern. There were 7-8 people there. They beat me with sticks, saying I was the safe-keeper of former İBB manager Serdal Taşkın and Ekrem İmamoğlu, and demanded 300 kilograms of gold from me.'
The procedures at the Public Order Branch Directorate have been completed for the 12 suspects, including 2 women, detained in the investigation of İBB Kültür A.Ş. Deputy General Manager Erhan Karaal, who was rescued after being abducted 4 days ago in Maltepe around 21:30. In the morning hours, the suspects were placed into two separate vehicles escorted by riot police and referred to the Anatolian Courthouse.
HIS STATEMENT WAS TAKEN AT THE HOSPITAL: WE CHANGED SEVERAL CARS
In the investigation conducted by the Robbery Bureau, Erhan Karaal's statement was taken at the hospital where he was receiving treatment. In his statement, Erhan Karaal reportedly said, 'We were going to the shore. So I went downstairs. While waiting for him, people approached me and forced me into a car. I do not recognize these people. After they put me in the car, they forced my head down, preventing me from seeing the surroundings and the people in the vehicle. We changed several cars. I don't remember the exact number.'
THEY ASKED 'WHERE IS THE 300, THEN 500 KILOGRAMS OF GOLD?'
In the continuation of Karaal's statement, where he described being continuously beaten by the suspects during the abduction, it was learned that he said, 'They told me, 'You are the head of Kültür A.Ş., you have a lot of money,' and first demanded 300 kilograms, then 500 kilograms of gold. They asked me where this gold was. When I told them I did not have such an amount of gold, they didn't believe me and kept beating me. I was very scared they would kill me.' It was also reported that Karaal told the police taking his statement that from the conversations he overheard while being held, he estimated the suspects were preparing to kill him in the near future.
'THEY CALLED ME FROM BALIKESİR'
İ.A., who was caught with a gun while standing guard over Karaal at the Public Order Branch Directorate, stated he was unaware of the details of the abduction, saying, 'They called me from Balıkesir. When I arrived, I first stayed in a bungalow house and then in another house. Later, upon instruction, I took food and water and went to the location where the victim was held. While waiting there, the police came and caught me.'
IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE INSTRUCTION CAME FROM ABROAD
It was learned that the identities of the people who abducted Erhan Karaal have been identified in the police investigation. It was learned that operations to capture the suspects, who are believed to have carried out the act on instructions from abroad, are continuing unabated.
'THEY FORCED ME INTO THE VEHICLE, SAYING THEY WOULD TAKE ME TO VATAN SECURITY'
Erhan Karaal said the following in his statement to the police: 'I went to my mother-in-law's house; during this time, I never felt I was being followed, and when I returned home, a person blocked my path in front of my residence, and several people came from behind. These people told me they were police and would take me to Vatan Security, forcing me into a vehicle. I couldn't see which vehicle I got into at that moment. Inside the vehicle, they pushed my head down between my legs.
After taking me for a while, they brought a vehicle flush against ours and moved me into that car. After driving around for a while, they again brought a vehicle flush against ours and moved me into that car. Since my head was between my legs in all the vehicles, I couldn't see their faces, and they never let me speak. Also, since my head was constantly forced between my legs, I couldn't see the roads, but we passed through the Eurasia Tunnel twice. I learned this from the audio announcement on the stereo. When we first crossed to the European Side, an Iraqi driver was driving the car.
'THEY SAID I WAS İMAMOĞLU'S SAFE-KEEPER AND DEMANDED 300 KILOS OF GOLD FROM ME'
There, they took me to a place like a cistern. When I entered, they took my glasses, wallet, and phone. There were 7-8 people there. Inside, they beat me with sticks, saying I was the safe-keeper of former İBB manager Serdal Taşkın and Ekrem İmamoğlu, and demanded 300 kilograms of gold from me.'
'THEY CONTINUED TO BEAT ME IN A PLACE LIKE A SEWER'
Karaal said, 'I got to know Serdal Taşkın when I started working at İBB, and I have no relationship with him outside of work. When I said I did not have that kind of money, they tortured me, saying you will give that money, and later they kept beating me, saying you will give the 500 kilograms of gold that Serdal Taşkın hid in Erzincan. During this, when I said I have 2-3 million lira saved for my children, I can give that to you, they said we'll give you 2 million for your money and continued beating me. Among themselves, they said let's get a computer and have him transfer the money to our account, but later they didn't bring the computer. Then they put me in a vehicle and took me through the Eurasia Tunnel. They took me to a place like a sewer and continued beating me. There, they blindfolded me, tied my hands, put me in the trunk of a car, and took me to the place where the police found me. There were 3-4 people there. Two people were constantly watching over me. They pulled out my nails and continued beating me with sticks and iron bars.'