Man Arrested After Demanding Gold Back from Father-in-Law Accused of Fraud

A Bayrampaşa resident, Murat Alçı, alleges he was defrauded by a family acquaintance, Mahmut O., whom he had known for 10-15 years as a religious official. Alçı approached Mahmut O. about marriage prospects, and was told he could meet Mahmut O.'s daughter, Fatma Birgül O. After a brief courtship of about 1.5 months, the potential marriage did not materialize.

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I was defrauded by Mahmut O. and Fatma O. in 2024. We have known this family for 10-15 years. Later, this acquaintance continued. Since I knew Mahmut O. as an elder and a teacher, I went to him with the idea of marriage. He told me that if I found it suitable, I could marry his daughter Fatma Birgül O. I was surprised, of course. I said I needed to think about this matter. We went as a family to ask for her hand, and in about 1.5 months, the marriage did not happen in any way.

Alçı claims that during this period, Mahmut O. approached him citing financial difficulties and requested a loan. Alçı provided 8 Cumhuriyet gold coins and 200 grams of gold from his savings. Mahmut O. allegedly promised to transfer an apartment registered under his wife's name in exchange for the gold, valued at approximately 2 million Turkish lira, stating his wife had consented.

However, Alçı discovered that Mahmut O. had purchased another property in his wife's name instead of transferring the promised apartment. When Alçı demanded his gold and money back, Mahmut O. claimed the funds were invested and facing issues. Alçı, initially believing it was a misunderstanding, later filed a fraud complaint.

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Mahmut O. then started asking me for money as a loan using his daughter's name. He took money from me with the promise of selling an apartment in his wife's name for 2 million lira. I had given him this money in exchange for buying a house. I exchanged approximately 2 million lira for 200 grams of gold and 8 Cumhuriyet gold coins and gave it to him. He said, 'Okay, we are selling this place.' He told me he had spoken with his wife and she had approved the sale and given him power of attorney, thus obtaining permission to sell the house. I got his word that we would go to the land registry in 3 days. When we arrived 3 days later, I learned that he had bought another place in his wife's name with the cash he took from me. When I asked for my apartment, they said they would not sell it. Then I said, 'Give me my money then.' They mentioned that they had invested the money somewhere and there was a problem. We did not initially classify this as fraud and thought there might be a misunderstanding. My family went to talk, we went to talk.

Alçı stated that he has identified approximately 10 other victims who claim to have been defrauded by Mahmut O., with losses ranging from apartments to land, totaling an estimated 50 million Turkish lira. Alçı himself was arrested for violating a restraining order after returning to Mahmut O.'s residence to demand his assets, serving three days in jail.

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I have about 10 victims I can reach. There are those who lost their apartments, those who lost their land. We are talking about a total victimhood of about 50 million lira.