19.06.2026 13:41
Erhan Karaal, Deputy General Manager of İBB Kültür A.Ş., who was abducted in front of his home in Maltepe, was rescued in Tuzla during a police operation. In the investigation, where the number of detainees has risen to 8, it was determined that the incident involved pressure from two contractors who did not receive a tender and a former employee who was fired. Additionally, it emerged that the suspects kidnapped Karaal, called his wife, and threatened him, saying, "We know you have money. You will send us money."
New details have emerged in the investigation into Erhan Karaal, the Deputy General Manager of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality's Culture Inc., who was kidnapped two days ago at around 21:30 in Maltepe and rescued this morning.
THEY CALLED HIS WIFE AND DEMANDED RANSOM
It was learned that on the day of the kidnapping, Erhan Karaal, who had a court case in Silivri, was preparing to go for a walk on the shore with his wife and daughter when he arrived home in the evening. It was determined that Erhan Karaal, who went down in front of the house and waited for his wife to get ready, was kidnapped at that moment. It was established that after the suspects kidnapped Karaal, a person called his wife from an international number and threatened her, saying, "We know you have money. You will send us money."
FORMER EMPLOYEE AND TWO CONTRACTORS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY
In the investigation launched after the incident by the Public Order Branch Directorate's Robbery Bureau Office, it was determined that Erhan Karaal, who is being tried without detention in the IMM case, had a dispute with a former employee he had fired and two contractors who were known to have a good relationship with that employee. It was determined that two contractors, who were unable to secure tenders especially after the Basilica Cistern was transferred to the Ministry of Culture, pressured Erhan Karaal to grant them new tenders. Following this development, it was learned that the two contractors and the former employee were also taken into custody.
THEY TOOK HIM TO 4 DIFFERENT ADDRESSES AND HID HIM
While it was stated that the suspects interrogated at the Robbery Bureau Office said in their initial statements that they had nothing to do with the incident, it was learned that the police were tracking the kidnappers on the other hand. In the investigations, it was determined that the suspects came to the scene with two cars, and after the kidnapping, they transferred Erhan Karaal to the other car. It was determined that the suspects followed the side streets, reached the D-100 Highway, and then took Erhan Karaal to 4 different addresses and hid him.
RESCUED AT THE 20TH ADDRESS RAIDED
The police worked to catch the suspects using hundreds of hours of security camera footage. Raids were conducted at 19 addresses identified in Kocaeli, Yalova, and Istanbul to catch the suspects. However, Erhan Karaal, who was not found at these locations, was determined to be held in an empty warehouse in Tuzla. A very careful operation was conducted to rescue Erhan Karaal, who was found to be guarded by an armed person. Teams from the Robbery Bureau Office and Tuzla District Police Department, in a sudden raid, rescued Erhan Karaal, who was sitting on the floor with his hands and feet tied, and the suspect waiting beside him with a gun was also caught red-handed.
EFFORTS TO CATCH 8 SUSPECTS CONTINUE
It was stated that 8 suspects have been taken into custody in the operations. It was noted that operations are ongoing uninterrupted, and efforts to catch the remaining 8 targeted suspects continue unabated, and the number of those in custody may increase in the coming days.
HE WILL BE QUESTIONED AFTER RECOVERING
Meanwhile, it was reported that the rescued Erhan Karaal told the police who saved him, "They kidnapped me by force. I can't believe I'm free." It was learned that Erhan Karaal, who was beaten and left without water during the kidnapping, is continuing his treatment in the hospital. It was learned that Erhan Karaal, who is said to be out of life-threatening danger, will be questioned after he recovers.
SECURITY CAMERAS RECORDED SECOND BY SECOND
Meanwhile, the security camera footage that emerged clearly shows the moments when three people approaching Karaal, who was walking on the sidewalk while talking on the phone, first blocked his way, and then after a struggle, forced him into a car that pulled up to the street.
"IF YOU HADN'T COME, THEY WOULD HAVE SHOT ME IN THE HEAD"
Karaal's first words to the police who rescued him were, "They kidnapped me by force; if you hadn't come, they would have shot me in the head." It was stated that Karaal, who is continuing his treatment in the hospital, is in good health and will give a detailed statement after being discharged.