01.11.2025 14:49
The founder of the cryptocurrency exchange Thodex, Faruk Fatih Özer, who was arrested on charges of defrauding many people, was found hanging in the bathroom of his single-person cell at the Tekirdağ F-Type High Security Closed Prison. Minister Tunç stated regarding the matter, "The exact cause of death will be determined as a result of the investigation. However, the initial findings suggest that it is a suicide."
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Faruk Fatih Özer, who is on trial for defrauding thousands of people through the cryptocurrency exchange Thodex, was found dead in prison.
Özer, who faces a prison sentence of 11,190 years and 6 months for charges including 'Establishing and managing an organization', 'Qualified fraud', and 'Money laundering', was found hanging in the bathroom of his single cell this morning at Tekirdağ F-Type High Security Closed Prison.
AN INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN INITIATED
During the check conducted by the officials, it was determined that Özer had passed away. While it is emphasized that Özer committed suicide, an investigation has been initiated by the public prosecutor's office regarding the incident.
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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 exact 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 cell, 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. Cameras are present at the entrances of the rooms in the prison. Is there any suspicious situation or not? All of these will be investigated."
HE WAS CAPTURED IN ALBANIA AND BROUGHT TO TURKEY
Faruk Fatih Özer, the founder of Thodex, fled abroad in 2021 and was captured in Albania on August 30, 2022, and 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 Özer for the crimes of "Establishing, managing, and being a member of a criminal organization", "qualified fraud", and "money laundering".
HOW DID THE THODEX SCAM START?
The company, established by Özer under the name Koineks in 2017, 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 enter the global market from Turkey in 2020.
The exchange suddenly closed its systems in 2021, claiming that they were undergoing maintenance, just two days before the company's founder Özer fled. 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 made in cryptocurrency exchanges, and the differences between exchanges.
According to the MASAK report included in the indictment, it was stated that the company named Thodex was established by Faruk Fatih Özer with a capital of 400,000 lira and 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, which is the commercial center of the defendants Cem Uzunoğlu, Faruk Fatih Özer, and Zuhal Özer.
The indictment noted that a loss of 356 million lira occurred due to these crimes, and it was requested that 21 defendants, including Faruk Fatih Özer, who is among the 7 detained, be sentenced to imprisonment ranging from 12,164 years to 40,562 years for the crimes of "establishing and managing an organization for the purpose of committing a crime", "fraud by using information systems as a tool of banks or credit institutions", and "fraud and money laundering by merchants or company managers and cooperative managers".
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 the crimes of "qualified fraud", "establishing an organization for the purpose of committing a crime", and "money laundering from 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 the crimes of "being a member of an organization" and "money laundering from the proceeds of crime", while it was requested that the other 17 defendants be sentenced to varying terms of imprisonment for various crimes.
FARUK FATİH 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 Appeals Court in Albania, Özer was brought 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 in prison for the crimes of "establishing, managing, and being a member of an organization", "qualified fraud", and "money laundering".
Additionally, for one complainant, the defendants Faruk Fatih Özer, Güven Özer, and Serap Özer were separately sentenced to 6 years, 4 months, and 15 days in prison and a judicial fine of 135 million lira for the crime of "fraud by using information systems".
The Özer siblings were sentenced to a total of 11,196 years, 10 months, and 15 days in prison.
Other defendants were sentenced to varying terms of imprisonment for various crimes.
The panel acquitted 16 defendants of the crime of "qualified fraud" due to lack of evidence, and ordered the release of 4 defendants.
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