20.06.2026 14:01
In the investigation of C, the Deputy General Manager of İBB Kültür A.Ş., rescued in an operation in Maltepe, two more individuals were detained, raising the total number of detainees to 10. It was revealed that the suspect Yusuf A., who was caught waiting with a gun aimed at Erhan Karaal's head during the operation, was assigned as a trigger man. It emerged that the suspects instructed Yusuf A., 'We will demand ransom from the family again. If they don't pay, we'll notify you. Then you shoot him in the head and kill him.'
New developments have occurred in the investigation of Erhan Karaal, the Deputy General Manager of İBB Kültür A.Ş., who was abducted by three unidentified individuals in front of his home in Maltepe on Wednesday, June 17, at around 9:00 PM, and rescued as a result of the meticulous work of the Public Order Branch Directorate's Robbery Bureau teams.
THEY HELPED THE SUSPECTS ESCAPE It was learned that the 2 individuals detained last night by the teams are illegal taxi drivers who were determined to have helped the suspects escape after the incident. The Robbery Bureau teams, continuing the investigation, found that the illegal taxi drivers took the suspects first to Fatih and then to different addresses. The number of suspects held in custody at the Public Order Branch Directorate regarding the incident has increased to 10.
Yusuf A. "SHOOT HIM IN THE HEAD" INSTRUCTION On the other hand, it was learned that the suspect who was caught waiting with a gun beside Erhan Karaal during his interrogation at the Robbery Bureau was assigned as the triggerman for the incident. It was determined that 27-year-old Yusuf A., who has a long criminal record, primarily for drug offenses, was given the order to 'Kill' by the suspects. It was learned that the suspects told Yusuf A., "We will ask the family for ransom again. If they don't pay, we will let you know. You shoot him in the head. This is an empty place; they will barely find the body after 45 days. We will cover our tracks. They won't find us." The investigation into the incident continues in multiple directions.
WIFE SPOKE Meanwhile, Erhan Karaal's wife, Ayşe Toprak Karaal, spoke. Karaal stated that her husband, who was transferred to Kartal Lütfü Kırdar Training and Research Hospital after Tuzla State Hospital, continues treatment in intensive care. Karaal said that those who kidnapped her husband called her, and she recounted her experiences during this process.
"THEY SAID LET US HAVE YOU SPEAK WITH YOUR HUSBAND" BUT DIDN'T CALL Karaal said, "They didn't ask me for anything. They just said, 'Let us have you speak with your husband.' We couldn't speak. They were going to call, but they didn't. It was a foreign number; I don't remember when they called. Since the day he was kidnapped, I haven't slept. I couldn't eat either; I'm sleepless." When reminded by press members that 8 people were detained, Karaal said, "I don't think it's them. My husband is a person who wouldn't even hurt an ant. I don't think they would harm my husband in any way. I believe there must be some confusion in this matter. A wrong target, because it makes no sense. I haven't heard anything about money; I don't know. All security units are investigating everything in detail. From the beginning to the end of the process, everyone, regardless of party affiliation, including all police, prosecutors, and MPs, was mobilized to find my husband. He was found in a good situation; otherwise, there would have been no chance of being found."
"WE WENT THROUGH A VERY DIFFICULT PROCESS" Karaal also conveyed that those who called on the phone told her, 'You shouldn't be at the police station,' and said, "I believed my husband would be found, and I started waiting. We went through a very difficult process. I had been waiting at the police station without sleep for 3 days. My husband was found in a remote place in Tuzla Orhanlı. He was found just in time. Our police, prosecutors, and MPs all helped us a lot during this process. They all called many times, and you valuable press workers also made our voices heard. Thank you all very much."