04.12.2025 17:31
25 kilograms of gold and 50 kilograms of silver were stolen by the court officer Erdal Timurtaş from the custody office at the Büyükçekmece Courthouse. A red notice has been requested for the fugitive suspect Timurtaş, who has been determined to have fled to England.
The 147 million theft at the Büyükçekmece Courthouse in Istanbul has become a hot topic in Turkey. Court officer Kemal D. has been detained, and the main suspect Erdal Timurtaş is being sought everywhere.
The incident occurred in the judicial custody office. According to information obtained, it was determined that Erdal Timurtaş, the service officer working in the custody office of the Büyükçekmece Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, had not been coming to work for a long time. Following this, the prosecutor's office, upon suspicion, had the safes opened that were in the possession of custody officer Kemal D. It was found that the opened safes were completely empty. Initial findings revealed that approximately 25 kilograms of gold and 50 kilograms of silver had been stolen. After the situation was identified, the prosecutor's office contacted the police teams and issued a detention order for Erdal Timurtaş and Kemal D. In the investigation, it was determined that Timurtaş flew to England with his wife and children on November 19, 2025, at 08:22 from Sabiha Gökçen Airport. Suspect Kemal D. was detained.
9,906 GRAMS OF GOLD, 49 REŞAT GOLD COINS, 438 NECKLACES...
The gold that was understood to have been stolen from the judicial custody was determined to be gold seized during an operation against human smuggling. In a detailed count conducted in the judicial custody office; 9,906 grams of gold, 49 reşat gold coins, 438 necklaces, 66 grams of earrings, 5 kilograms of gold bars, 7 pieces of gold medals, 167 full gold coins, 606 bracelets, 1,477 grams of bracelets, 376 half gold coins, 1,328 quarter gold coins, 40 Republic gold coins, 2,701 grams of various jewelry, 487 Ata gold coins, 6 grams of gold, and 50 kilograms of silver were found to be missing. Calculations indicated that the total value of the stolen gold and silver was approximately 147 million lira.
"MAY GOD GIVE YOU A MARKET"
It was learned that the theft suspect Erdal Timurtaş started working at the Büyükçekmece Courthouse in 2021 as a permanent worker. The suspect, known as a calm and quiet person in his surroundings, allegedly sent messages to some of his colleagues after the incident saying, "I sold the goods. May God give you a market."
It was learned that the safe key in the custody room was only held by Kemal D., who had worked for many years as a custody officer at the Büyükçekmece Courthouse. According to allegations, the key to the custody room was held by both Kemal D. and Erdal Timurtaş. It was learned that Erdal Timurtaş worked as a service officer at the courthouse.
LAST INSPECTION WAS ON OCTOBER 2
According to the information obtained, there was a double key system in the custody room, and inspections were conducted every two months. The last inspection was conducted on October 2. The stolen jewelry was largely from the jewelry seized during an operation conducted in recent months, but evidence from other files was also seized.
REQUEST FOR A RED NOTICE
A red notice has been requested for the fugitive suspect Erdal T. and his wife Esma T. by the Büyükçekmece Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. The request has been forwarded to the Ministry of Justice. It was also reported that other individuals connected to the suspects and who had been in contact would be investigated, and the investigation would be deepened. No explanation has been made regarding how and where the suspect used the money.
OTHER SUSPECT TRANSFERRED TO THE COURTHOUSE
The suspect Kemal D., who was detained in connection with the incident, was transferred to the courthouse after his procedures at the police station. It was learned that the suspect's statement was being taken by the prosecutor's office.