Police arrest five suspects linked to 'Çirkinler' gang threatening diamond firm
Istanbul prosecutors coordinated raids after the group allegedly sent extortion messages from abroad and stormed a hotel where the company owner was staying.
KEY POINTS
- Five suspects detained in operation targeting 'Çirkinler' armed crime group
- Group threatened Zen Diamond owners via foreign phone numbers for extortion
- Suspects raided hotel where complainant Mehmet Diribaş stayed, pressured staff
- Police seized narcotics, precision scales, and digital evidence during raids
- Detainees sent to court with arrest request; investigation continues
The Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office organized crime bureau directed an operation against the armed group known as "Çirkinler" on October 3. Investigators determined that gang members used foreign phone numbers to send threatening messages to the owners of Zen Diamond demanding money.
Suspects also entered the hotel where complainant Mehmet Diribaş was staying, pressured staff to reveal his personal details, and sent simultaneous threats to his phone. Istanbul Organized Crime Branch teams raided multiple addresses and detained five suspects.
“Investigations into armed criminal groups that intimidate citizens for illicit gain will continue with determination.”
Searches of the suspects' residences yielded large quantities of narcotics, precision scales, and digital devices containing organizational correspondence related to the extortion plot. The five detainees were referred to the Bakırköy Criminal Court of Peace with a request for arrest.
The prosecutor's office stated that investigations into armed criminal groups that intimidate citizens for illicit gain will continue with determination.
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