26.02.2025 11:22
A suspect identified as being involved in 14 cases of sexual harassment and assault in Ataşehir was apprehended in Pendik. The suspect, who was found to target women using the underpass, particularly during commuting hours, has been arrested.
The teams of the Istanbul Police Department took action after determining that a large number of sexual harassment and sexual assault crimes were committed in the Tuzcuoğlu Bridge underpass located in the Barbaros neighborhood of Ataşehir district. The teams initiated necessary security measures and monitoring activities around the underpass.
CRIMES WERE GENERALLY COMMITTED DURING COMMUTING HOURS
It was determined that the individual who committed 14 sexual assault and sexual harassment crimes between 2020 and 2025 generally committed these crimes during the morning and evening commuting hours. The suspect, who targeted women using the underpass located in the direction of a bus stop near the crime scene, attempted to assault women while trying to beat them, and skin samples from the suspect, who got under the women's nails during the assault, were taken for DNA examination by the relevant officials.
TRIED TO HIDE HIS IDENTITY
As part of the extensive security measures taken, it was determined that no crime was committed at the crime scene and its surroundings, and it was found that the suspect tried to hide his identity by using a beanie and coat for camouflage.
14 CRIMINAL RECORDS FOR 'SEXUAL ASSAULT'
On February 18, 2025, around 11:20 AM, a person matching the description was seen running away from the secured area and getting into a parked vehicle. The identity of the individual identified from the vehicle's license plate information, named M.İ.Y., was found to have a total of 14 records for various crimes, primarily for "Sexual Assault."
It was determined that the suspect made indecent gestures towards a woman waiting at a bus stop on Barajyolu Street in the Yenişehir neighborhood on the same day, and the woman ran away from the secured area due to her screams and got into her parked vehicle. It was confirmed that the description of the identified suspect matched exactly with the crimes committed in the past, and during the interviews with the victims, it was understood that the suspect who committed 14 sexual assault and sexual harassment crimes was M.İ.Y.
ARRESTED IN PENDIK
The suspect was arrested during an operation conducted at his residence located in the Yenişehir neighborhood of Pendik district. During the searches at the address, the clothes he used to hide were taken into custody. When compared with the DNA samples previously taken from the women's nails, it was found to match exactly.
SENT TO PRISON
M.İ.Y., who was captured in connection with the case, was arrested and sent to prison by the judicial authorities on February 19, 2025, for the crimes of "Sexual Harassment" and "Sexual Assault."