Fact: Akel MP Irini Charalambidou criticized the attorney-general’s office for its handling of the prosecution of former Volunteerism Commissioner Yiannakis Yiannaki, who is accused of forging his academic qualifications.
– Two high-profile suspects in the north’s fake diploma scandal appeared in court in Morphou.
– Serdal Gunduz threatened the university’s vice rector and forced him to sign degree certificates obtained through illegal means.
– Gunduz holds residence permits in Greece and Russia, making him a flight risk.
– Sefa Karahasan’s degree certificate was signed by someone other than the university’s rector.
– Karahasan was given a 100,000TL bail with two guarantors.
– Opposition party CHP deputy leader criticized the government for appointing Karahasan as TRT’s Cyprus correspondent.
– The fake diploma scandal involved multiple high-profile figures in the north’s education system.
– Turkey’s higher education council announced intentions to prepare a report on the state of the north’s education system.
– Former ‘education minister’ Kemal Durust was arrested for fraudulently obtaining money and his wife was arrested for receiving a fake diploma.
Sefa Karahasan, the Turkish public broadcaster TRT’s Cyprus correspondent, was arrested in relation to the ongoing “fake diploma scandal”.
Turkey’s higher education council (Yok) is preparing a report on the state of the north’s education system in response to the “fake diploma scandal”.
Fact: The Turkish Cypriots’ future “lies in European values,” according to opposition party CTP leader Tufan Erhurman.
Ziya Ozturkler denied allegations of taking bribes from a university in relation to the ongoing “fake diploma scandal.”
The north’s Famagusta police chief, Baris Sel, claimed his arrest in the “fake diploma scandal” was a conspiracy against him. He was accused of fraudulently obtaining a master’s degree from Cyprus Health and Social Sciences University (KSTU) in Morphou but claimed he submitted a thesis to KSTU’s general secretary. A lieutenant colonel from the ‘TRNC security forces command’ was arrested for obtaining a forged doctorate from KSTU but released on bail. Another ‘TRNC security forces command’ employee, a captain, was arrested and remanded in custody. Two relatives of Ersin Tatar’s bodyguard, Serif Avcil, were also arrested in connection with the scandal, with one found in possession of a certificate of study and the other a degree certificate from KSTU. Avcil claimed to have lost his phone when summoned to the police station.
The Turkish Cypriot community is facing a scandal involving fake university diplomas and corruption, which has now affected the security forces’ command. Lieutenant Colonel Özgür Alp was remanded in custody for using a fake diploma for promotion within the Turkish military. The fake diploma was claimed to be from the Cyprus Health and Social Sciences University in Morphou. A high-ranking police officer, Serif Avcil, was also arrested over a fake diploma. This scandal is part of larger issues involving the KSTU university in Morphou, with allegations of embezzlement and fraud through fake student registrations and diplomas. The university is owned by Levent Uysal, a deputy in the Turkish Grand National Assembly. Celebi Ilik, involved in the scandal, used fake diplomas for civil service promotions and is facing charges related to forgery. Uysal attempted to obtain a €45 million loan from Swiss IntaCapital bank with fake documents in 2022 but avoided judicial proceedings by getting elected to parliament in May 2023. Turgay Avci, chairman of the Turkish Cypriot higher education watchdog Yodak, is under investigation for possibly having a fake diploma. There are also allegations against Dunya Baris Universitesi for operating illegally and investigations into irregularities in a real estate purchase by Altinbas Holding. Ali Altınbaş and Sofu Altınbaş were detained in September 2020 for involvement in a fuel profiteering network and accused of establishing a criminal organisation, aggravated fraud, and forgery.
Serif Avcil, the bodyguard of Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar, claimed he lost his phone on the way to the police station, according to police sergeant Bilger Koral. Avcil was arrested and had his second court hearing where it was revealed he registered for a master’s degree at Cyprus Health and Social Sciences University on June 5 last year, but the university’s records showed his enrollment date as February 2, 2022. Fake course grades were entered for Avcil, allowing him to graduate top of his class on June 19. He also claimed to not know where his diploma certificate was. Avcil was given a further six-day remand for not assisting the police by hiding evidence. Dervish Refikler, general secretary of the north’s higher education accreditation authority, was also in court for taking bribes related to the accreditation of KSTU’s medical school. Items including laptops and a diploma were seized from Refikler’s house, and he too was given a further six-day remand.
Turkish Cypriot Leader Ersin Tatar addressed the “fake diploma scandal” affecting the north’s higher education sector. He mentioned criticism regarding the excessive number of medical and dental schools relative to the population and suggested that the north’s higher education accreditation authority (Yodak) might have been negligent. Tatar had previously called for Yodak chairman Turgay Avci to resign due to allegations of bribery during the accreditation process of the Cyprus Health and Social Sciences University (KSTU)’s medicine school. The north’s ‘prime minister’ Unal Ustel stated the ‘government’ is actively addressing the issue to minimize negative impacts on the higher education sector and emphasized the importance of justice and maintaining the country’s reputation.