That title sounds like a really low budget film, but in actual fact, it is said to be true.
A Turkish newspaper is reporting that businessman Fadıl Akgündüz, who was arrested on charges of aggravated fraud in December 2015, is reportedly attempting to bribe prison guards to meet with clients and sell them timeshares.
The said timeshares are at the Caprice Didim Hotel, located in the Aegean resort town of Didim.
The report states that;
“A couple of months before he was arrested, businessman Akgündüz — popularly known as “Jet Fadıl” — seemingly transferred the Caprice Didim Hotel to his sister along with sales being conducted of timeshares”.
However, the Turkish newspaper further states that;
“learned from reliable sources, who asked to remain anonymous, that this transfer was only for show, and Akgündüz still maintains his ownership in practice, adding that he even tried to bribe prison guards at İstanbul’s Metris Prison, where he is currently being held, to meet clients and carry out sales of timeshares”.
An investigation was launched in December 2015 into Akgündüz over claims that he cheated investors of a Caprice Gold seven-star hotel project in İstanbul’s Bayrampaşa district.
Construction, which was to be completed in 2013, was halted in the middle of that year, with investors left guessing when they would start receiving their timeshare rental payments as promised by Akgündüz.
Akgündüz reportedly testified to a prosecutor on Dec. 21 as part of the investigation, and the prosecutor referred him to court for arrest. Even though controversial remarks made by his lawyers after his testimony misled the media, which reported that the court had ruled to release Akgündüz, it was later revealed that he had been arrested.
In 2012 the businessman had reportedly collected more than TL 1 billion from 12,000 timeshare buyers for the Caprice Gold project, who have yet to be reimbursed. Akgündüz was fined by the Ministry of Customs and Trade for engaging in unfair competition after he billed the Caprice Gold as a “seven-star hotel,” despite such a distinction being nonexistent.
Last year Akgündüz sent a letter to timeshare buyers stating: “Do not call us. Do not ask us when we will reimburse you. Wait for news from us and find new customers so that we will be able to pay you back.”
Back in 2002 he was sentenced in absentia for failing to deliver to investors on a project, for which he intended to develop a Turkish-made automobile. While still out of the country, Akgündüz ran successfully as a parliamentary candidate for the province of Siirt. Believing that he was then assured immunity, he returned to Turkey.
However, the results of the election were later cancelled and a new election was held, enabling Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to run and win the seat, which led to him being appointed prime minister. Akgündüz, on the other hand, was taken into custody and served a prison sentence between 2002 and 2004.
In 2014 Akgündüz sent a long letter to Erdoğan in which he blamed a “parallel state” for his woes and appealed to the then-prime minister for help. The term “parallel state” was invented by Erdoğan to stigmatize the faith-based Hizmet movement, also known as Gülen movement, after he faced serious allegations of corruption for which he blames the movement.
For more information regarding this article or assistance in any other timeshare related issues please contact the TCA on 01908 881058 or email: info@TimeshareConsumerAssociation.org.uk