Consulate attaché accused of stealing $180,000 for betting addiction

A Turkish diplomat serving as an assistant attaché in Mosul, Iraq, has been arrested and charged with allegedly embezzling approximately $180,000 from a consulate safe. The diplomat, identified by initials Ö.Y., reportedly confessed that the funds were used to support a virtual betting addiction.

Ö.Y., who has been with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 2011, was appointed to the Mosul consulate in 2024. In addition to administrative duties, Ö.Y. was one of three individuals responsible for the consulate's revenue and special funds. Between June and September 2025, Ö.Y. allegedly began taking money from the safe, which they controlled with the key, to cover mounting gambling debts.

During this three-month period, Ö.Y. reportedly took around $170,000, losing it all through online betting. Realizing the significant deficit in the safe, Ö.Y. took the key and went on leave to Turkey in September, claiming they had forgotten to leave the key behind. Despite requests to return the key, Ö.Y. made various excuses.

Upon returning from leave in October, Ö.Y. was asked to open the safe. An audit revealed that $180,134 was missing from the expected $190,342. An official report was filed, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs initiated an administrative investigation into Ö.Y. and other responsible personnel. Ö.Y. admitted to the charges during the investigation, stating they had a virtual betting addiction and hoped to replace the money, but lost it all. The diplomat was dismissed from civil service in March 2026 and subsequently arrested by prosecutors. Ö.Y. is currently detained, awaiting trial.