“Children Blackmailed into Suicide in Shocking Panel Operation” – Breaking News in Turkey
68 Suspects Sent to Court for Selling Personal Data
In a recent series of operations conducted in 25 provinces based in Istanbul, 68 suspects have been sent to court on charges of selling personal data through illegal inquiry systems in exchange for money. The suspects were detained by the Istanbul Police Department Cyber Crimes Branch teams, following concerns that the information shared on social media accounts could pose a threat to state security. Among the detained individuals were 35 children, and safety procedures for all 68 suspects have been completed.
The suspects have been referred to the Anatolian Palace of Justice, where the prosecution process has begun. Specifically, 4 prosecutors have been appointed by the Child Criminal Investigation Bureau to take statements from the 35 children involved in the crime. Statements from the other suspects are being obtained by the Office of fraud, fraud, and informatics.
Following the completion of prosecution statements, 50 out of the 68 suspects have been arrested while the remaining 18 have been referred to the Criminal Court of Peace with a request for judicial control. The Public Prosecutor’s Office has emphasized the seriousness of the situation, citing examples of similar security breaches in the past, including interventions in population and title deed records during the occupation of Iraq in 2003.
The investigation revealed that the suspects had illegally obtained personal data such as names, surnames, TC ID numbers, title deed records, and health information through panels, which were then sold for profit or used for blackmail purposes. Tragically, some victims, including children, were driven to suicide as a result of these blackmail attempts.
In a coordinated effort involving the Istanbul Cyber Crimes Branch Directorate and Anti-Cyber Crimes units, 35 children, including software and computer engineers, were detained in a simultaneous operation conducted in 25 provinces. During the arrests, a significant amount of digital materials were confiscated, along with unlicensed weapons and automatic rifles. The suspects now face charges related to compromising confidential information that pertains to national security or political interests.
