Turkish clerk flees to UK after stealing millions in gold and silver from courthouse
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A court employee has fled to the United Kingdom with a significant haul of gold and silver stolen from an Istanbul courthouse, Turkish authorities reported on Wednesday. Erdal T., who worked in the evidence office of the Büyükçekmece Courthouse, disappeared after failing to return from leave. Prosecutors discovered the theft on 1 December when the evidence safe was found empty.
Investigations indicate Erdal T. left Turkey on 19 November with his wife, Esma T., and their children, boarding a flight from Sabiha Gökçen Airport to London. Before leaving, he reportedly messaged friends via WhatsApp: “I sold the goods, may God grant prosperity to your markets.”
The stolen items, connected to various criminal cases, included around 25 kilograms of gold and 50 kilograms of silver, comprising bullion, Ottoman and Atatürk-era coins, bracelets, and gold coins, with an estimated value of 150 million Turkish lira (€3 million). Authorities also issued arrest warrants for Erdal T., his wife, and Kemal D., a clerk with access to the safe keys.
Kemal D. was arrested, while Erdal T. and his family remain fugitives in the UK. Investigators have questioned courthouse staff, examined CCTV footage, and reviewed phone records. Reports suggest Erdal T. used a shopping trolley to transport the metals past security checkpoints in mid-November, exploiting his insider access.
