03.09.2024 16:04
Social media influencers Kıvanç and Beril Talu couple, who were arrested on charges of defrauding their close circle through an advertising company for 3 million 17 thousand liras, have been charged with aggravated fraud and face a prison sentence of 195 years each.
The Anatolian Republic Prosecutor's Office has completed the investigation into 3 individuals, including social media influencers Kıvanç-Beril Talu, who were arrested and subsequently imprisoned on charges of fraud.
PROMISED TO MAKE ADVERTISEMENTS
According to the indictment prepared as a result of the investigation, Kıvanç-Beril Talu and Ertan Koç are listed as suspects, while 13 people are listed as complainants. The indictment states that the defendants Kıvanç and Beril Talu gained the sympathy and trust of people by making numerous broadcasts through social media channels. It is also stated that the defendants Kıvanç-Beril Talu and Ertan Koç acted in unity of thought and action and promised the complainants to organize advertisements through an advertising company.
THEY CREATED A PYRAMID SCHEME
The indictment states that the defendants needed money for this organization, and they involved those who paid for these advertising activities in the advertising business and promised to distribute the income from the advertisements proportionally. It is stated that the defendants created a pyramid scheme (a happiness chain) by deceiving the complainants and taking money from them without actually conducting any advertising activities. The indictment also states that the defendants paid the money of the first participants in the pyramid scheme with the money they received from those who joined later, and in this way, the complainants who thought they were participating in the advertising business also involved other complainants in the system at the request of the defendants.
TALU COUPLE DENIED THE ACCUSATIONS
In her statement included in the indictment, detained suspect Beril Talu claimed that she had been working at a communication and marketing solutions company for 10 years and that she was forced to resign because she was asked to pay unpaid amounts to the company due to the projects she was involved in. She also stated that she produced the projects undertaken by Var Böyle Tipler Reklam Organizasyon Ltd., a company registered in the name of her husband Kıvanç Talu, and that capital needs arose due to these projects, and they had to borrow money to run the business and pay off their debts.
"WE HAD TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY DUE TO THREATS"
Beril Talu, who denied the claim of profit sharing mentioned in the complainants' complaints, argued that they only borrowed money from the complainants and it was not possible for them to offer partnership to anyone due to the projects carried out in secrecy by herself and her husband. Beril Talu, who is detained, claimed that they did not have the intention of defrauding the complainants, that they had to leave the country due to threats, that before leaving the country, her father took out a loan and gave it to her, that she gave this money to the 3 people she borrowed from, and she denied the charges against her.
"WE DID NOT DECEIVE ANYONE, WE STAND BEHIND OUR DEBTS"
Detained suspect Kıvanç Talu stated in his statement that he took over Var Böyle Tipler Reklam Organizasyon Reklam Ltd. company, and that there were ongoing works before and during that period, and they completed some of these works, but they needed capital for the unfinished projects, so they had to borrow money from others in the industry and their friends. Kıvanç Talu, who stated that their debts increased because they could not pay off their debts and carry out the projects, claimed that the complainants demanded more money than they gave by using this situation. Kıvanç Talu claimed that they did not deceive anyone, they stood behind their debts, they fled abroad because they were threatened by the people they received payments from, and they sold their phones because they needed money while abroad.
The defendant Ertan Koç, who is the founder of Var Böyle Tipler Reklam Organizasyon Reklam company, stated that he was responsible for the administrative and financial affairs of the company, and that Kıvanç Talu, who is his son-in-law, was the face of the company in terms of advertising. He stated that he transferred the company to Kıvanç Talu in November 2023 and that his daughter and son-in-law borrowed money from the complainants within the scope of advertising activities, and he denied the charges against him, stating that he had no knowledge of this matter.
DEMAND FOR 195 YEARS OF IMPRISONMENT FOR THE DEFENDANTS
The indictment emphasizes that the defendants Kıvanç Talu, Beril Talu, and Ertan Koç defrauded a total of 13 people for a total of 3 million 17 thousand liras. The indictment argues that the defendants committed the crime of "qualified fraud during the commercial activities of traders or company executives who are in unity with three or more people or act on behalf of the company; by deceiving the cooperative managers and involving them in the advertising business, they created a pyramid scheme." The indictment requests that they be sentenced to imprisonment for a period ranging from 58 years and 6 months to 195 years.
The prepared indictment has been accepted by the Anatolian 4th Heavy Penal Court for evaluation. The trial of the defendants will begin in the coming days.