08.01.2026 10:02
In the investigation regarding the theft of 25 kilograms of gold and 50 kilograms of silver from the custody safe of the Büyükçekmece Courthouse in Istanbul, it was determined how the robbery was carried out step by step. It was revealed that Erdal Timurtaş, who fled abroad with his wife after robbing the judicial custody, was backed by a gang connected to a tribe from Ağrı. It was established that Timurtaş gave the gold and silver to the gang, which then transported them to Doğubayazıt in a convoy of 12 vehicles. Additionally, only 9 grams of the stolen 25 kilograms were recovered.
New details have emerged in the investigation regarding the theft of 25 kilograms of gold and 50 kilograms of silver, valued at approximately 147 million lira, from the custody office of the Büyükçekmece Courthouse. It has been revealed that Erdal Timurtaş, who fled abroad with his wife after robbing the courthouse, was backed by a gang connected to a tribe from Ağrı. It was determined that they transported the stolen gold and silver to Doğubayazıt in a convoy of 12 vehicles.
HERE ARE THE 3 ORGANIZERS OF THE HEIST The prosecution identified how the robbery was meticulously planned step by step during their investigations. Camera footage revealed three more individuals involved in the courthouse robbery. These individuals were Muhammet Seferoğulları, Muhammed Efe, and Metin Sonar. After receiving the gold from Timurtaş, these three individuals exchanged the gold at jewelers and purchased luxury vehicles for themselves. These three suspects also distributed 200,000 euros to other individuals who indirectly participated in the robbery.
THEY WENT TO DOĞUBEYAZIT IN A 12-VEHICLE CONVOY Investigations revealed that a portion of the stolen gold and silver was melted down at jewelers and converted into cash, and efforts were made to launder the obtained money. It was determined that the suspects established a car dealership with this money and purchased vehicles within the dealership. They rented 4 private security personnel with the money obtained from exchanging the gold, filled these vehicles with bundles of euros and some of the gold they had exchanged. They moved in a convoy of 12 vehicles to their hometown of Doğubayazıt, located approximately 1,500 kilometers away from Istanbul.
TRIBAL CONNECTION EMERGED Upon reaching Doğubayazıt with the convoy, they hosted many individuals from their own tribe in hotels with the stolen money and accommodated them. They also continued to exchange some of the gold they could not fully convert at a jeweler named "Koç Kuyumculuk" located in Doğubayazıt.
Muhammed Seferoğulları THE ONE WHO ORGANIZED THE HEIST WAS ALSO IN THE COURTHOUSE GARDEN It was learned that Muhammed Seferoğulları, the person directing the organized robbery, was waiting in a vehicle during the heist and was on the run with his cousin Muhammed Efe. It was reported that Seferoğulları's girlfriend Elif Dölçek was also arrested for 'money laundering', and Metin Soner, one of the suspects waiting in the vehicle outside the courthouse, was among those arrested. It was reported that Burak Çiçek, the owner of the rental company from which the vehicles used in the convoy were obtained, and Gülsüm Varol, who facilitated the laundering of the money, were also arrested, while it was determined that the entire theft was intended to be attributed to the fugitive officer Erdal Timurtaş. As part of the investigation, the assets of all suspects were frozen.
ONLY 9 GRAMS OF THE 25 KILOGRAMS OF GOLD WERE SEIZED It was learned that the amount of gold seized during the operation was only 9 grams, and 677,695 lira was confiscated from their accounts. The 12 vehicles used in the convoy were seized. It was also determined that 4 luxury vehicles purchased with the money obtained from exchanging the gold were seized.
ORGANIZERS ARE BEING SOUGHT It has been learned that efforts are ongoing to capture the organizers of the robbery and the individuals at the head of the convoy, namely Muhammed Seferoğulları, Muhammed Efe, Cahit Polat, Feyyaz Dinç, and Ahmet Dinç.
BACKGROUND OF THE INCIDENT It was determined during inspections that Erdal Timurtaş, a service officer assigned to the custody office at the Büyükçekmece Courthouse, had not come to work for a long time, and 25 kilograms of gold and 50 kilograms of silver had been stolen. After the prosecution identified the situation, it was revealed that Erdal Timurtaş and his wife Esma Timurtaş flew to England from Sabiha Gökçen Airport with their children on November 19. A red notice was issued for the arrest of Erdal Timurtaş and his wife. As part of the investigation, Kemal D., the judicial custody officer who was determined to have the key to the room, was arrested in the first operation conducted. In the second operation related to the incident, suspects Ömer K., Zeynep V., Eyüp İ.S., Gülsüm V., and Yunus E.K. were arrested and sent to prison. Meanwhile, judicial control measures in the form of house arrest were applied to suspects Burak Ç., Mehmet T., and Mehtap S., while the other 5 suspects were released under the condition of a travel ban abroad.