Fake diploma scandal: 199 defendants to appear before judge on September 12

The defendants in the case filed against 199 people regarding allegations that the e-signatures of high-level public officials were copied and fake diplomas and driver's licenses were issued will appear before the judge on September 12, 2025.

The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has completed its investigation into suspects who copied the e-signatures of senior executives in public institutions and issued fake diplomas and driver's licenses.

In the first phase of the investigation, the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office prepared an indictment against 134 suspects. The second, completed indictment included 65 suspects. A total of 199 suspects were named in the indictments related to the allegations.

It was requested that the suspects be subject to criminal proceedings for “violation of the Law on the Organization and Duties of the Measurement, Selection and Placement Directorate,” “fraud in electronic certificates,” “blocking, disrupting the system, destroying or altering data,” and “illegally providing or seizing data.”

In two separate indictments, it was revealed in detail how the suspects created the e-signatures.

In the indictments, it was determined that the suspects copied the e-signatures of the President and Vice President of the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK), the Head of the Education and Training Department of the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), the Head of the National Education Department, and the Heads or staff of the Student Affairs Departments of 15 different universities.

Following the initial indictment against 134 suspects, a second indictment was submitted to the same court. The Ankara 23rd Criminal Court of First Instance decided to combine the two cases. All defendants will appear before the judge on September 12, 2025.

Meanwhile, the prosecutor's office continues to investigate some suspects whose cases have been separated. Therefore, the number of suspects may increase.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya issued a statement regarding the counterfeit diploma and driver's license operations. Yerlikaya reported that a total of 197 suspects were apprehended in two separate operations.

According to a statement by Minister Yerlikaya on his X account, the first operation took place simultaneously in 23 provinces on January 7. The second operation was conducted in 16 provinces on May 23. Of the 197 suspects apprehended in the two operations, 37 were arrested. Judicial control orders were issued for 150 people.

The first operation was conducted as part of an investigation conducted by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. Crimes related to forgery of official documents, violation of the Student Selection and Placement Center (ÖSYM) services law, and hacking into information systems were investigated. The Ankara Provincial Police Department's Cybercrime Branch conducted the operation.

The investigation identified the electronic certification organizations TÜRKTRUST and E-IMZATR. It was determined that fraudulent transactions were being conducted at their branches in Adana, Mersin, Hatay, Ankara, and Istanbul. Electronic signatures were produced in the names of public officials using fake driver's licenses and ID cards.

The forged e-signatures were used to gain unauthorized access to public systems. Illegal transactions were carried out using this method. On January 7, 2025, a simultaneous operation was conducted in 23 provinces, centered in Ankara. 126 suspects were apprehended, and 17 were arrested .

The second wave of operations took place in 16 provinces on May 23, 2025. Sixty-one suspects were apprehended in this operation, and 20 were arrested. Crimes of accessing information systems, obstructing systems, and violating the electronic signature law were investigated.

Yerlikaya said that 10 more wanted suspects were captured after the two operations were completed and announced that the criminal organization had been completely dismantled.

As a result of the investigation, 57 fake diplomas were identified. Additionally, 108 fake driver's licenses and four fake high school graduation certificates were seized.

(ANKA)