01.11.2025 17:45
The body of Faruk Fatih Özer, who was found dead in Tekirdağ No. 1 High Security Closed Prison where he was detained on charges of defrauding numerous people, has been handed over to his relatives. Meanwhile, it has been reported that Özer was found hanging with a sheet at the bathroom door of his single-person cell during the morning count by the guards.
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Faruk Fatih Özer, who was arrested for allegedly defrauding many people through the cryptocurrency exchange he established, was found dead in his prison cell. Health teams confirmed that he had passed away during their examination. An investigation has been initiated by the prosecutor's office regarding the matter.
ÖZER'S FUNERAL HAS BEEN RECEIVED Özer's funeral was taken from the Tekirdağ City Hospital Forensic Medicine Institution in the morning hours. After the judicial procedures, Özer's funeral was received by his relatives.
FOUND HANGING WITH A SHEET ON THE BATHROOM DOOR Meanwhile, new details have emerged regarding Özer's death. It was learned that Özer was found dead hanging with a sheet on the bathroom door of his single-person cell during the morning roll call by the guards.
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MINISTER TUNÇ: INITIAL FINDINGS INDICATE SUICIDE Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç made the following statements regarding Özer's death: "We immediately contacted our prison management and the General Director of Prisons. Here, of course, there is talk of a suspicion of suicide. An investigation has been opened on this matter and is ongoing. The definitive cause of death will be determined as a result of the investigation. But currently, the initial findings indicate that it was a suicide."
"CAMERAS ARE PRESENT AT THE ENTRANCES OF THE ROOMS" The management of our prisons is taking all necessary precautions in this regard. Of course, he is kept in a single-person room, which is a precaution due to the nature of the crime he committed. There is a suspicion of suicide in the room where he stayed alone in Tekirdağ F-Type High Security Prison. There are cameras at the entrances of the rooms in the prison. Is there any suspicious situation or not? All of these will be investigated."
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HE WAS CAPTURED IN ALBANIA AND BROUGHT TO TURKEY Faruk Fatih Özer, the founder of Thodex, was captured in Albania on August 30, 2022, after fleeing abroad in 2021, and was later extradited to Turkey.
11,000 YEARS OF IMPRISONMENT IS REQUESTED A total of 11,190 years and 6 months of imprisonment was requested for him on charges of "establishing, managing, and being a member of a criminal organization," "qualified fraud," and "money laundering."
Faruk Fatih Özer HOW DID THE THODEX SCAM START? Founded by Özer in 2017 under the name Koineks, the company was Turkey's fourth cryptocurrency exchange at the time of its establishment. The company, which established Turkey's first Bitcoin ATM, became the first cryptocurrency exchange to expand into the global market from Turkey in 2020.
The exchange suddenly shut down its systems two days before the company's founder Özer fled in 2021, citing maintenance. Following this, investors and users of the exchange began to file complaints.
DETAILS OF THE INVESTIGATION The indictment prepared by the Anadolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office stated what cryptocurrency is, the legal status of Bitcoin, how transactions are conducted on cryptocurrency exchanges, and the differences between exchanges.
According to the indictment, which stated that the company named Thodex was established by Faruk Fatih Özer with a capital of 400,000 lira, the MASAK report indicated that this platform deceived its clients with fraudulent behaviors due to their business and transactions.
The indictment detailed that 253 million 714 thousand 909 lira worth of cryptocurrency was transferred from three separate accounts under the control of the defendant Faruk Fatih Özer, a significant portion of which was transferred to cryptocurrency wallets located with the "Cryptocurrency Service Provider" based in Malta, associated with defendants Cem Uzunoğlu, Faruk Fatih Özer, and Zuhal Özer.
The indictment noted that damages amounting to 356 million lira occurred due to these crimes, and it was requested that 21 defendants, including Faruk Fatih Özer, who is among the seven detained, be sentenced to imprisonment ranging from 12,164 years to 40,562 years for "establishing and managing an organization for the purpose of committing a crime," "fraud by using information systems as a means of bank or credit institutions," and "fraud by merchants or company executives and laundering the proceeds of crime."
In the main opinion, it was requested that the defendant Faruk Fatih Özer and his siblings Güven Özer and Serap Özer be sentenced to imprisonment ranging from 12,142 years to 40,462 years for "qualified fraud," "establishing an organization for the purpose of committing a crime," and "laundering the proceeds of crime."
It was requested in the opinion that the defendant Zuhal Özer be sentenced to imprisonment ranging from 8 to 18 years for "being a member of the organization" and "laundering the proceeds of crime," while various prison sentences were sought for the other 17 defendants for different crimes.
FARUK FATIH ÖZER WAS ARRESTED ON APRIL 23, 2023 Faruk Fatih Özer, the founder of the cryptocurrency exchange Thodex, who was wanted as a fugitive defendant, was captured in Albania on August 30, 2022.
After the extradition decision of the Durrës Court of Appeals in Albania, Özer was brought back to the country on April 20, 2023, and was arrested by the duty judge at the Anadolu Justice Palace on April 23.
In the decision made by the Anadolu 9th Heavy Criminal Court on September 7, 2023, the detained defendants Faruk Fatih Özer, Güven Özer, and Serap Özer were sentenced to 11,190 years and 6 months of imprisonment for "establishing, managing an organization, and being a member of it," "qualified fraud," and "money laundering."
Additionally, for one complainant, defendants Faruk Fatih Özer, Güven Özer, and Serap Özer were each sentenced to 6 years, 4 months, and 15 days of imprisonment and a judicial fine of 135 million lira for "fraud by using information systems."
The Özer siblings were sentenced to a total of 11,196 years, 10 months, and 15 days of imprisonment.
Various prison sentences were also given to the other defendants for different crimes.
The panel acquitted 16 defendants of "qualified fraud" due to lack of evidence and ordered the release of 4 defendants.
Source: AA
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