22.01.2026 11:28
23-year-old Özlem Develi, who trusted her friend and used her IBAN three years ago in Adana, was held in prison for 15 days on charges of "fraud." The young woman, against whom 20 lawsuits were filed, was sentenced to 4 years and 5 months in prison in one case. Develi, who stated that she couldn't even receive her university diploma due to her prison sentence, said, "I went to prison for a crime I didn't commit. I am serving the sentence for something I didn't do."
23-year-old Özlem Develi, who lives in Adana, allegedly became friends with M.D. while going to a tutoring center in 2023. M.D. gained Özlem Develi's trust and offered the young girl, 'I am in business. My accounts are blocked, can you temporarily let me use your IBAN?'
SHE MADE THE MISTAKE OF GIVING HER IBAN TO A FRIEND
Develi opened an account at a private bank and gave it to her friend to use. During this process, Develi became suspicious when M.D. did not come to the tutoring center, and 15 days later, she was called to the police station, where a fraud case was opened against her. The young girl explained the situation to the police and filed a complaint against M.D., and then closed her bank account. It was revealed that M.D. had organized a lottery on social media platforms and demanded money from the winners before the account was closed. Those who paid the money but did not receive the products they won in the lottery filed complaints against Özlem Develi.
SHE WENT TO PRISON
Develi was imprisoned last June. After being held for 15 days, the young girl was sentenced to 4 years and 5 months in prison and a fine of 149,960 TL as a result of a trial held last week at the Burdur 2nd High Criminal Court.
"BE A PART OF THIS, GET 2,000 TL AS POCKET MONEY" OFFER
Özlem Develi, who stated that 11 of the 20 cases opened against her are ongoing in various courts across the country, said that she has been subjected to threats from M.D. and those around him because she filed a complaint against M.D. She mentioned that M.D. sent her a message saying, "I can have you taken from your home as a terrorist in the morning. Come be a part of this, get 2,000 lira as pocket money, I can continue to work with you. You are a beautiful girl, let's settle this sweetly."
"I TRUSTED BUT HE DEFRAUDED PEOPLE"
Despite all the difficulties she faced, the young girl, who went to university and graduated from the computer programming department, said that she could not go to receive her diploma because she has a confirmed prison sentence and is wanted. Özlem Develi, who recounted her experiences in tears, said, "My friend told me that he was in business and that his accounts were blocked. He asked to use my account, and I trusted him. But he defrauded people. I learned all of this at the police station. I filed a complaint. They threatened me, saying, 'We can take you from your home as a terrorist.' Nothing happens to those who do this. Right now, I have 3-4 sentences in the appellate court, one of them is confirmed. They will take me when they catch me. Even though I did not defraud anyone, they are filing complaints against me, and I am being punished," she said.
"I GRADUATED FROM UNIVERSITY, BUT I CANNOT GET MY DIPLOMA"
Stating that her life has darkened and that she cannot even get her diploma, Develi said, "I graduated from university, but I cannot get my diploma. They ruined my life, I cannot get a job. There is an arrest warrant against me, and if I go to get my diploma, they will take me there, so I cannot go. I went to prison for something I did not do. I am serving the sentence for something I did not commit. I stayed in prison for 15 days before the Sacrifice Feast. I am suffering for these things, while nothing happens to them," she said.
"WE ARE IN A DESPERATE SITUATION"
Father Ahmet Develi stated that his daughter's life has darkened, saying, "My daughter trusted her friend and gave her IBAN, and he defrauded her. Right now, my daughter has ongoing cases in the heavy penal court. We are in a desperate situation. This child should be guided, it is a shame for her youth. My daughter is innocent," he said, breaking down in tears.