Operation at Kuşadası Şoförler Kooperativi: 3 detentions, MASAK report revealed

As part of the investigation launched against the Şoför Esnaf Kefalet Kredi Kooperativi operating in the Kuşadası district of Aydın, the awaited operation was carried out. As a result of the investigation conducted by the Kuşadası Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, a comprehensive financial and administrative examination process had been initiated regarding the cooperative's management cadre and former officials. Within the scope of the investigation, simultaneous raids were conducted by gendarmerie and police teams in the early hours of the morning at the cooperative building and related addresses, and numerous documents and digital materials were seized.

It was reported that the primary basis of the operation was complaints regarding the collection of money under the name of 'appraisal fee' from cooperative members without documentation or in an unlawful manner. According to allegations, the cooperative management obtained unjust gains by demanding extra payments outside standard procedures during transactions related to members' vehicles. Upon these complaints, the investigation was deepened, and the cooperative's accounting records, bank account movements, and member transactions were examined in detail.

Among the detained suspects were the cooperative's current President Hüsnü Öten, as well as former cooperative manager S.V., former secretary M.A., who were stated to have served in the management in the past, and another suspect B.K. After the statement procedures were completed at the gendarmerie station, the suspects were referred to the Sulh Cece Hakimliği (Peace Criminal Judgeship), where their statements were taken. During the interrogation and presentation of evidence, the grounds for the detention decision were evaluated for the suspects who rejected the accusations or defended themselves regarding the matter.

According to the information contained in the investigation file prepared by the Prosecutor's Office, a critical report prepared by the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) was submitted to the court. The report emphasized that a high financial mobility of 11 million 482 thousand lira based on unlawful transactions was detected in the accounts of the suspect persons and the cooperative. While possibilities that this amount may have been created through undocumented appraisal fees and other unlawful collections are being focused on, it is claimed that the suspects could not make a concrete and convincing explanation regarding the whereabouts of these funds.

As a result of the trial, the judgeship made their decision by considering the nature of the crimes attributed to the suspects, the evidence situation, and the risks of flight. Accordingly, President Hüsnü Öten, former manager S.V., and secretary M.A., who were tried in connection with unlawful financial activities and fraud allegations at the cooperative, were detained and sent to prison. Another suspect, B.K., who was detained within the scope of the operation, regained his freedom as the decision was made to reject the detention request or release him under judicial control conditions.