1.5 Billion Lira Yediemin Parking Lot Fraud Exposed in Multi-Province Operation
Istanbul police have dismantled a criminal network accused of orchestrating a 1.5 billion lira fraud scheme involving vehicles held in Yediemin (trustee) parking lots. Following a six-month technical and physical investigation led by the Istanbul Police Department’s Auto Theft Bureau, 32 suspects were detained across eight provinces, including Istanbul, Ankara, Bursa, İzmir, Antalya, Şanlıurfa, Balıkesir, and Tekirdağ.
The operation targeted three specific parking facilities in the Tuzla, Maltepe, and Sultanbeyli districts of Istanbul, as well as two additional storage depots. Among the 32 individuals taken into custody are the alleged leaders of the organization, identified by the initials Ö.T., O.T., Y.K., B.T., and İ.A. The detained group also reportedly includes business people and a hospital-owning doctor who allegedly acted as customers for the illicit services.
Sophisticated Methods of Manipulation
The investigation revealed that the criminal network employed three distinct methods to extract value from vehicles held under legal custody.
First, members of the organization routinely dismantled valuable parts—such as engines, doors, and seats—from vehicles stored in the parking lots to sell them as spare parts.
Second, the group manipulated public auctions. Before an auction, they would remove key components from vehicles to lower their appraised value, often reducing the sale price to one-tenth of its actual worth. After purchasing the vehicle at the deflated price, they would reassemble it for sale to third parties. If they failed to win the auction, they would sell the previously removed parts to the successful bidder at inflated prices. Furthermore, the group utilized artificial intelligence to generate fraudulent expert reports, falsely classifying undamaged vehicles as heavily damaged
to facilitate lower purchase prices.
Third, the organization manipulated the legal system to bypass tax obligations. By creating fictitious debt, they forced vehicle owners into a position where the gang could place a priority personal lien
on the vehicle. By exploiting legal provisions that allow private debts to take precedence over public claims, they sold the vehicles, took a commission, and handed the remainder of the proceeds to the original owner, effectively preventing the state from collecting outstanding tax debts.
Operational Audacity and Legal Consequences
Technical surveillance recordings captured the group’s disregard for the law. In intercepted communications, leaders were heard instructing subordinates to dismantle parts from vehicles to cover immediate cash needs, with one directive stating: There is no cash right now. Go dismantle a few radiators from there and turn them into money.
The suspects are currently facing charges related to 71 separate counts, including qualified fraud,
rigging of auctions,
forgery of official documents,
and breach of trust.
They have been referred to the Anatolian Courthouse for judicial proceedings.
Ongoing Financial Investigation
While the current estimate of the financial impact stands at 1.5 billion lira, this figure is subject to change. The Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) is currently conducting a comprehensive review of the suspects’ accounts. Authorities indicated that the final scope of the financial damage will be clarified upon the completion of the MASAK report.
The following table summarizes the primary strategies utilized by the criminal organization to facilitate the fraud:
| Strategy | Mechanism |
|---|---|
| Part Extraction | Removing components to sell as parts or to artificially devalue vehicles before auctions. |
| AI Manipulation | Using artificial intelligence to create fake expert reports misrepresenting vehicle condition. |
| Lien Abuse | Creating fake debts to prioritize private liens over state tax claims. |
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