He was one of the world's few wealthy people! Turkish businessman Asil Nadir is receiving treatment at a state hospital.

The Cyprus-born Turkish businessman Asil Nadir, who was once the chairman of the leading global company Pollypeck and one of the wealthiest individuals, is going through difficult times in Cyprus after losing his fortune following a conviction for embezzlement and a 10-year prison sentence in the UK.

Recently, Nadir, who has been experiencing serious health problems, has been seeking a solution to his problems at a state hospital instead of private hospitals, which has attracted attention.

PROBLEMS IN LUNGS AND INTESTINES

In late August, Asil Nadir, who is 83 years old and whose condition is not critical, was admitted to the Dr. Burhan Nalbantoğlu State Hospital in Nicosia for observation. He was hospitalized for control purposes due to the problems he experienced in his lungs and intestines and was discharged two days later.

RECEIVING TREATMENT AT STATE HOSPITALS

Asil Nadir, who was once one of the richest men in the world, had also received treatment at the same state hospital in Nicosia a few weeks ago. It was claimed that the reason for Nadir's choice of a state hospital instead of a private hospital was due to his previous debts, which prevented him from being admitted to a private hospital.

WHO IS ASIL NADIR?

Asil Nadir, born on May 1, 1941, in Lefke, is a Turkish businessman of Cypriot origin and is 79 years old. After the EOKA attacks in 1955, his family moved to the UK in 1963. Asil Nadir was sent to Istanbul University Faculty of Economics to pursue his education. Nadir, who dropped out of university and entered the business world under the supervision of his father, completed his university education after 1980.

After the family settled in London, they acquired a company called Wear Well in the retail sector. After the Cyprus Peace Operation in 1974, Nadir returned to Nicosia and started a textile business.

MADE A MARK IN THE 1980s

In 1985, Asil Nadir opened the Vestel Electronics company in Manisa, with the participation of Turgut Özal. In 1988, he opened the first branch of Pizza Hut in Turkey at Ataköy Galeria, and entered the media business by purchasing the newspaper Günaydın from Haldun Simavi for 44 million Turkish liras and 5 million pounds, upon the recommendation of then-President Turgut Özal. After acquiring the Gelişim magazine group, Nadir also bought some media outlets in the TRNC during these years.

In 1990, he was ranked 36th on the list of the richest people published by the Sunday Times newspaper.

FROM THE UK TO SILIVRI PRISON

In late 1990, following the bankruptcy of Polly Peck, one of the largest companies in the UK, the UK government issued an arrest warrant for Nadir due to tax fraud. Nadir, who had been living in Northern Cyprus for many years, was arrested in the UK in 2010 after voluntarily returning and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

In 2013, he was sent to Turkey for the remaining 5 years of his sentence. After diplomatic efforts by Turkey, Nadir was extradited to Turkey in 2016 and released. Nadir continues his media ownership in Cyprus.