10.08.2026 11:21
In Antalya, Ali Süslü, who was summoned by the police saying 'you have a signature matter,' was arrested to serve someone else's finalized prison sentence due to the similarity of names. After 9 days, the prison psychologist noticed that the ID numbers were different, but Süslü was released after 10 days. Süslü, who had undergone surgery and lost his job, filed a criminal complaint against the relevant officials regarding the grievance he experienced and stated that he would file a compensation lawsuit.
Ali Süslü (47), who was called to a police station in Antalya after being told 'you have a signature matter', was arrested and sent to prison on the grounds that he had a 10-day finalized prison sentence. On the 9th day, when the prison psychologist checked the Turkish ID number and it was revealed that there was a name similarity, Süslü's innocence was understood. Released at the end of the 10th day, Süslü filed a criminal complaint against those concerned.
A police officer who called Ali Süslü, who works in the real estate sector in the Konyaaltı district, by phone on July 26, invited him by saying, 'You have a signature matter, come to the police station.' Süslü, who had recently undergone hernia surgery and was resting, went to the police station. Süslü, who was detained there, was referred to the courthouse. Süslü, who could not learn what his crime was, was sent to Antalya L-Type Closed Penitentiary Institution on the grounds that he had a 10-day finalized prison sentence.
FOUND HIMSELF IN PRISON
In response to Süslü's question about why he was imprisoned, he was told, 'We don't know.' Süslü, who had difficult days in prison, had his dressings done by his cellmates because he had surgery, and was taken to the hospital's emergency room twice by ambulance. Despite repeatedly saying that he was innocent and that a mistake had been made, Süslü could not convince anyone.
"WE APOLOGIZE, A MISTAKE WAS MADE"
The truth emerged on the 9th day in prison. Süslü, who was taken for a routine meeting with the psychologist, said he did not know what his crime was. Examining the records on his computer, the psychologist noticed that the detained Ali Süslü and the Ali Süslü who had a finalized prison sentence had the same name but different Turkish ID numbers. It was also understood that the wanted convict, like Süslü, was born in Adana, but their addresses did not match. According to allegations; upon realizing the mistake, Süslü was told, "We apologize, a mistake was made." Süslü, who wanted to be released after the truth came to light, was told that he had to complete the 10-day sentence and was released the next day.
ALSO LOST HIS JOB
After entering prison, Süslü also lost his job due to the allegations against him. Süslü, whose psychology deteriorated, filed a criminal complaint through his lawyer Abdullah İlkkahraman against those concerned for 'Misuse of duty', 'Neglect of duty' and 'Restriction of liberty'.
"DON'T YOU KNOW YOUR OWN CRIME"
Süslü, who said that he found himself in prison all of a sudden without understanding what happened, said, "A police officer called me and said, 'You have a signature matter. Please come to the police station.' Despite having surgery, I went there. I asked what my crime was. Since he couldn't see the content, he said, 'You will go to court.' They took me from there to the courthouse and put me in detention. When I asked again, 'I just had surgery, why are you holding me, what is my crime?', they said, 'Don't you know your own crime?' Then I asked, 'Can I see the prosecutor?' They said, 'You cannot see the prosecutor because you have a finalized sentence. You will serve this sentence.' They took me to the L-Type Closed Prison and I remained detained for 10 days."
"WE APOLOGIZE, WE CANNOT RELEASE YOU"
Süslü, stating that he cannot believe what he experienced and is very sad, said, "On the 9th day, they said I would see the psychologist. The psychologist asked me questions and said, 'Your crime is already known.' I said, 'I still don't know what my crime is.' When the psychologist opened the computer, Ali Süslü, yes, the name is mine, but the Turkish ID numbers are not the same. They started laughing. I said, 'I've been here for 9 days, release me.' They told me, 'We apologize, we cannot release you, and a mistake was made, and we apologize for that.' They released me 1 day later."
"IT HURT ME A LOT"
Süslü, describing that he became unemployed because of this incident, said, "I was working in the real estate sector, rumors spread that I served this sentence for defrauding some clients. Now I cannot work anywhere. The contracts I made were also cancelled. Psychologically, in business life, my contracts, everything was ruined in prison. My life was turned upside down because of one mistake. For 10 days, I told the police, the gendarmerie, and the guards in the prison that it wasn't me. No one cared; they said, 'You will serve your sentence, there is no other way.' After I served my sentence, they said 'Sorry, we apologize' and left me from the hospital. Serving 10 days for a crime I didn't know about hurt me a lot. I served 10 days unjustly, and my reputation was lost."
POLICE ALSO RAIDED HIS HOME 3 MONTHS AGO
Süslü, who said he wonders who he went to prison in place of but couldn't find him, said, "Unfortunately, 3 months ago at 05:30 in the morning, police came to my house, ringing the doorbell and banging on the door as if they were going to break it down. When I opened the door half-asleep, the police immediately put me on the ground and confiscated my phone and computer. They started examining my phone and computer. While the reports were being written, when they finally wrote my Turkish ID number, they realized that it wasn't me. They said 'Sorry, we apologize' again and left my house."
AN INCIDENT LIKE THE MOVIE 'PARDON'
Ali Süslü's lawyer, Abdullah İlkkahraman, said they have initiated legal proceedings against those responsible. Comparing the incident to Ferhan Şensoy's movie 'Pardon', İlkkahraman said, "Unfortunately, due to a name similarity, without considering the Turkish ID number and other matters, our client was invited by law enforcement officers for a 10-day forced imprisonment issued for another person. After the invitation, they took him to the prosecutor's office. Without taking any statement, application, or asking any question, he was taken from the courthouse and detention center and placed in prison. During this process, our client could not find anyone to tell his troubles to, and on the 9th day, during his meeting with the psychologist, when he said 'This person is not me, I am here unjustly,' the situation was identified. Unfortunately, the 10th day was completed and our client was released."
"WE WILL FILE A COMPENSATION LAWSUIT"
İlkkahraman, describing the victimization experienced by the client, said, "When we examined the documents, we learned that due to a name similarity, our client, who has no connection to the address or the court, was unjustly imprisoned. Our client works in real estate. Due to this process, different news spread about him, and he is also experiencing victimization in his business. Regarding the situation our client experienced, we filed a criminal complaint with the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against those concerned for 'Misuse of duty', 'Neglect of duty' and 'Restriction of liberty'."
We will file a compensation lawsuit again," he said.