Four more suspects have been detained in relation to the murder of Turkish Cypriot businessman Halil Falyali last week, while a number of guns believed to have been used in the attack have been located, Turkish Cypriot media reported on Monday.
Falyali was gunned down on Tuesday evening while being driven home, and later succumbed to his injuries in hospital. His driver also died in the attack.
The well-known businessman’s funeral was held on Thursday in the presence of hundreds of mourners. His gangland-style execution has created a stir in the north and beyond, giving way to speculation about Falyali’s alleged links to the underworld.
Last week, two people were arrested in the north and three in Istanbul, prompting the two police forces to collaborate on the investigation.
According to Kibris Postasi, four more suspects have been arrested in the north, two of whom were working as bodyguards for Falyali.
The bodyguards are in custody, while the other two have been remanded for three days after police found a pistol and nine bullets hidden under the bathtub where they were staying.
They reportedly rented cars in the north using forged drivers licenses.
Police also reportedly found two Kalashnikov rifles, a 9mm pistol, magazines and dozens of bullets in a stream very close to the scene of the crime.
During his interrogation, one of the two suspects said he arrived in the north in a boat, and that he had been staying in a house rented by Turkish mob boss Mustafa Soylemez, who is currently in custody in Istanbul in relation to the case.
Soylemez was identified as one of the three arrested in Istanbul by newspaper Hurriyet. He is the leader of the ‘Soylemez Brothers’, a well-known criminal organisation in Turkey.
Soylemez reportedly had a telephone conversation with Falyali before the attack.
Falyali was being driven home by a chauffeur when men with automatic guns attacked the car he was in. The businessman was shot 18 times in the head and body. He died in hospital despite efforts to save him.
His chauffeur Murat Demirtas was also killed in the attack, and will be buried in Ankara.
Police found 59 shells at the scene of the crime, along with nine bullet fragments, and believe that multiple guns were used in the attack, meaning multiple shooters.
They will also be examining GPS routes as it is believed the perpetrators used multiple rental cars.
Falyali’s family, who were following him in a second car, were not harmed in the attack.
This has given way to speculation, with Yeni Duzen alleging that the attack was related to a “settling of debts”, and Halkin Sesi saying this was “the work of professionals”.
Havadis said the attackers must have had inside information as the other three cars in the convoy heading to Falyali’s house were not harmed. It also said that the arrested suspects may have had business ties to Falyali.
A story by CNN Türk spoke of Falyali’s influence in the north, alluding that the murder may have come by competitors. It also said that Falyali must have suspected he was being trailed, which could explain why he chose to travel in a separate car from his family.
The businessman was namechecked by Turkish gang leader Sedat Peker back in May, in one of the videos he posted with revelations about many political figures in Turkey and their alleged shady activities.
Peker in his video had also claimed that Falyali, who owned a casino hotel in Kyrenia, was involved in drug trafficking and money laundering in the north through his businesses in cooperation with Erkan Yildirim, son of former Turkish prime minister between 2016 and 2018, Binali Yıldırım.
Falyali had denied the claims and said he was not involved in any drugs cases and had never met in person with any of these individuals.
Turkish media had also written that over the past few decades, the businessman had amassed powerful connections related to illegal gambling in the north, and had unsuccessfully made a bid to buy Fulham FC in 2004.
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