19.12.2024 21:00
In the case involving 250 defendants, including 13 in custody, related to the criminal organization that includes Halil Falyalı, who was killed in the TRNC, his wife, and the casino manager, a release decision has been made for the detained defendants.
In the case concerning the criminal organization that includes Halil Falyalı, who was killed in the TRNC, his wife, and the casino manager, a release decision was made for the detained defendants among the 250 defendants, 13 of whom are in custody.
The first hearing held at the Ankara 20th Criminal Court of First Instance was attended by 13 detained defendants, including the organization leaders, detained defendants Doğan Karakaya, Enes Güven, Erkan Koçak, and Baran Karaağaç, as well as some defendants who are not in custody and the lawyers of the parties.
"I REGRET MY ACTIONS"
The judge announced that the trial had begun and, after the identity check, gave the defendants the floor. Detained defendant Baran Karaağaç, known by the code name 'Aytekin' in the organization, stated that he went to Cyprus to find a job due to financial difficulties, saying, "I was told that I would receive a salary in dollars and that my insurance would be arranged. They said I would work in the finance department of the casinos.
What I did was transfer money to individuals who were making a profit. I wanted to leave the job because I saw some suspicious transactions. However, I had to work due to financial difficulties. During the time I worked, I did not gain any benefits other than my salary. Then I returned to Turkey. I do not know Halil Falyalı, whose name I learned after the investigation was opened. I regret my actions," he said.
"IF I HAD MONEY, I WOULD WITHDRAW IT"
Another detained defendant, Doğan Karakaya, claimed that he had no connection with any of the transfers made, stating, "My name appears in Excel files, but I don't even have a computer of my own. It is claimed that there is money in my cloud wallet; if I had money, I would withdraw it," he expressed.
Detained defendant Enes Güven, who took the floor, claimed that he had no connection to the incident and requested his release from the court.
After the judge gave him the floor, detained defendant Erkan Koçak, who claimed that the money coming into his account was from the vegetable market, stated, "During the pandemic, when the textile sector was closed, I collected vegetables and fruits from the villages for a period and sent them to the Istanbul Bayrampaşa market. The vegetable and fruit business I did was paid in cash. A commission was deducted at the market, and that was also paid by the market. I do not accept the charges against me. I request my release," he said.
DETAINED DEFENDANTS WERE RELEASED
After the statements of the defendants and their lawyers, the Public Prosecutor requested that the current situation of the detained and non-detained defendants be maintained. Following this, the court announced its interim decision, ruling for the release of detained defendants Aykut Aydoğan, Bahri Dokuz, Baran Karaağaç, Doğan Karakaya, Enes Güven, Erkan Koçak, Firdes İşlek Güven, Güray Kıroğlu, Hasan Ay, Mehmet Muhammed Erişen, Selim Kahveciler, Seyfi Uslu, and Şeyda Çelik, while lifting the judicial control measures against the non-detained defendants. The hearing was adjourned to May 13, 2025.