03.04.2025 16:35
In Adana, a suspect who introduced himself as a "MIT officer" and two accomplices defrauded 16 people, making a total of $130,000. The fraudsters claimed they would take the victims to the United States through illegal means and sent all of them to Istanbul Airport. Additionally, the fraudsters deceived a deputy commissioner with the lie, "I will get you into MIT."
In Adana, M.A.A. (31), who introduced himself as an officer of the National Intelligence Organization (MIT), told 16 people he had ensnared with the help of his friends M.K. (54) and M.K. (58) that he could take them to the USA through illegal means. M.A.A. gained the victims' trust by explaining that he had good relations with public officials, stating that they would first go to an African country together and then transition to the USA.
HE ALSO DECEIVED THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER
The suspect collected a total of $128,400 from the victims he met at a relative's carpet cleaning shop. Additionally, M.A.A. convinced S.A., an assistant commissioner working at the Adana Police Department, whom he met during the fraud, that he was an MIT officer, deceiving him with the lie, "I will get you into MIT."
HE TOOK THE VICTIMS TO ISTANBUL UNDER THE GUISE OF GOING TO THE USA
On May 22, 2022, suspects M.A.A., M.K., and M.K. called 16 victims to Adana Airport under the pretext of going to the USA. The suspects also collected an additional $100 from each of the 16 victims for the yellow fever vaccine, which the state provides for free. The 16 victims boarded a plane and went to Istanbul Airport.
HE MADE A FAKE ARREST
When the victims realized they had been defrauded after being unable to reach the suspects, they returned to Adana and went to M.A.A.'s house. Subsequently, assistant commissioner S.A. intervened and took M.A.A. along with M.K. and M.K. to the police station where he worked in a police vehicle. After offering tea and coffee to the suspects, S.A. released them.
THEY ACCUSED EACH OTHER
When the victims filed a complaint with the prosecutor's office, a warrant for the suspects was issued on May 25, 2022. During the operation conducted at their addresses, M.A.A. was detained, claiming he did not introduce himself as an MIT officer and did not defraud anyone, instead blaming his friends M.K. and M.K. Other suspects claimed that M.A.A. was the one who committed the fraud. M.A.A., M.K., M.K., and S.A. were arrested. A case was opened against the four suspects at the 14th Heavy Penal Court.
THEY WERE RELEASED
In the first hearing of the case, the four defendants were released to be tried without detention. S.A. was reinstated to his profession by court order. It was reported that part of the victims' losses was compensated following the complaint. The suspects being tried without detention are scheduled to appear before the judge on April 14.