'Unfair gain' case against street animals association; 7-year prison sentence requested for 14 defendants

An investigation has been launched by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime Investigation Bureau into 18 suspects, including association directors and other related individuals, who allegedly obtained unlawful profits by acquiring property by transferring aid collected under the name of the 'Patches Clinging to Life Association' into their possession. According to the evidence collected and the expert report received from the Court of Accounts expert auditors, detention orders were issued for 9 suspects who allegedly obtained an unlawful profit of approximately 20 million liras. 8 of the suspects were detained in simultaneous operations, while 1 suspect was determined to be abroad. Association Chair Buket Özgünlü, her sister Demet Kılıç, and the owner of the shop called 'Papağan Evi' Ertan Işık were arrested and sent to prison on charges of 'abuse of office' and 'laundering assets'. The other 4 suspects were released under judicial control measures.

Within the scope of the investigation launched by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, an indictment was prepared against 14 defendants, including the President of the Paws Holding on to Life Association, Buket Özgünlü and her sister Demet Kılıç, who were found to have used the money donated to meet the needs of stray animals such as health, food and shelter for their personal expenses. The prepared indictment stated that the defendants laundered the income obtained by issuing fake invoices at food companies. It was determined that the defendants caused damage to the public in this way.

'FAKE FOOD INVOICE WAS ISSUED'

Upon the request of the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the account movements of the Paws Holding on to Life Association were examined by the Court of Accounts auditors and an expert witness consisting of association auditors. Accordingly, the report prepared stated that there were suspicions in the account movements of the association and that some cash and transfer movements were not used within the scope of the association's activities. The report explained that the money transfers were transferred to the accounts of association president Buket Özgünlü and her family after various transactions between association members. It was also stated that the defendants acquired unjust property with the money coming under the name of 'donation' and that the money withdrawn from the association account was transferred to the defendants' bank accounts. The indictment explained that vice president Demet Kılıç withdrew 6 million 621 thousand liras from the association account and transferred this to the accounts of Buket Özgünlü and defendant Evren Kılıç. It was stated that 62 food invoices were issued and 865 thousand liras were sent to the account of Tuna Boyacı, the fugitive husband of defendant Buket Özgünlü, for whom there is an arrest warrant.

'A TOTAL OF 18 MILLION 627 THOUSAND TL DAMAGE WAS INCURRED'

In the indictment, it was determined that the other defendant, Ertan Işık, issued 170 fake invoices totaling 5 million 558 thousand liras, the content of which was 'cat and dog food' on behalf of the association between 2021 and 2024. The indictment, which explained that although there was no food purchase or sale, the amount was transferred from the association's account to the defendant Ertan Işık's account, stated that 5 million 558 thousand liras were sent to the defendants' accounts. It was reported that the association suffered a total loss of 18 million 627 thousand 848 liras.

Accordingly, the defendants; the President of the Paws Holding on to Life Association Buket Özgünlü, her sister Demet Kılıç, Demet Kılıç's husband Evren Kılıç, Buket Özgünlü's sister Tuğçe Soysal, her mother Fatma Özgünlü, her father Cemal Özgünlü, Aleyna Nur Sarıoğlu, Alev Erçetin, Aynur Temel, Birkan Soysal, Ertan Işık, Rüya Bilgi, Tuğba Törüsel and Yosma Bilgi were charged with 'abuse of trust due to service' and a lawsuit was filed against them, requesting up to 7 years in prison each. The indictment was accepted by the Ankara 69th Criminal Court of First Instance and a lawsuit was filed.