Former village headman charged with embezzlement over missing computer

According to IHA news agency, the incident occurred in the Borazanlar neighborhood of Bolu city center. According to the information obtained, Mustafa Arda Kıyasoğlu, who was elected as the headman in the March 31, 2024 Local Elections, took over the position from Şevki G., who served as headman between 2009 and 2024.

After starting his duties, the new headman Kıyasoğlu noticed that the laptop computer allocated by the Bolu Municipality for use in the headman's office was missing.

When he questioned the former headman Şevki G. about the situation, he allegedly received responses such as, "It doesn't concern you, this is between the state and me," and "The computer is lost," prompting Kıyasoğlu to file a criminal complaint with the Bolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

"I THREW IT IN THE TRASH BECAUSE IT COULDN'T BE REPAIRED"

In the investigation launched following the complaint, the former headman Şevki G., whose statement was taken, denied the accusations against him. Şevki G. stated in his testimony that the computer in question broke when it fell from a table during cleaning at the headman's office, saying, "I took it to repair shops, but they said it was unusable. Therefore, I had to throw the computer away because it was unusable." He stated that he used a desktop computer he bought with his own money and gave it to someone in need after losing the election. Şevki G. claimed that he went to the municipality to claim compensation for the resulting public loss, but officials told him they couldn't pay.

TO BE TRIED IN A HIGH CRIMINAL COURT

The investigation conducted by the Bolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has been completed and an indictment has been prepared. The indictment emphasizes that the Bolu Municipality allocated the computer not for personal use, but for the headman's duties, and that it should have been returned to the new headman at the end of his term. The prosecution noted that no official record was kept regarding the computer being broken and thrown away. According to the indictment accepted by the Bolu High Criminal Court, former village headman Şevki G. will appear before the judge on charges of "embezzlement" under Article 247/1 of the Turkish Penal Code, facing a request for imprisonment and deprivation of certain rights.

"THE ISSUE IS PUBLIC PROPERTY, NOT INDIVIDUALS"

Making statements on the matter, Borazanlar Neighborhood Headman Mustafa Arda Kıyasoğlu said, "When I took office, I found that there were some deficiencies regarding the fixed assets. And I reported this situation to the relevant authorities through official channels. During the process, some people suggested that the matter should not be escalated. However, despite all the suggestions, I did not back down. Because the issue here is not individuals, it is public property. My aim is not to target any individual, but entirely to protect public property. The process has now been referred to the judiciary. Turkish justice will make the necessary assessment. I want to state here that I trust in justice. What is important for us is transparency, truthfulness, and the protection of the rights of our state."

COMPUTER AND PRINTER SUPPORT FROM MINISTER KURUM

Muhtar Kıyasoğlu stated that they had applied to many institutions to solve the problem of insufficient computers, and said that the Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, Murat Kurum, had supported them. Kıyasoğlu said, "Our Minister of Environment and Urbanization, Mr. Murat Kurum, heard our voice and sent us a computer and a state-of-the-art printer through his Chief of Staff one morning. He contacted us via video call and told us that he would always be there for us. I would also like to express my thanks to our Minister of Environment and Urbanization for not leaving us in the lurch."

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