A TOTAL of 38 people have been detained, including one employee of Didim Municipality, as part of an operation against those who tried to sell property with a fake power of attorney, and illegally obtain citizens’ identities and property information.

The Gendarmerie and police in Didim issued a statement that sensationalist news reports on this issue should not be taken into consideration and that the security forces had caught the suspects before they could act.

Fifty police officers and 120 Gendarme were involved in simultaneous operations last Friday (April 18), at addresses in Didim, Aydın, Muğla, İzmir, Ankara, Kırşehir, İstanbul, Ordu, and Kayseri.

A total of 41 people were initially arrested, including two employees of Didim Municipality, for allegedly preparing to sell real estates of people with forged powers of attorney.

After analysing the evidence gathered by the gendarmerie and the police, the judge in Didim decided to arrest 38 of 41 people. These people will be tried in pre-trial detention. These people were sent to prisons in Söke and Aydın.

Of the 38, one of those arrested was an employee of Didim Municipality, while the other Municipality employee was released. Some real estate agents were also arrested.

The trial process will begin in the coming months.