Uğur Tosunoğlu to Be Tried Without Custody

Tosunoğlu was arrested after submitting fraudulent financial documents to win the tender for the new TRNC Central Bank building. He appeared before the court again yesterday morning.

Police officer Uğur Yıldıran stated that Tosunoğlu was charged with "forgery of official documents, circulating forged documents, circulating expired or invalid certificates," "attempting to obtain money by fraud," and "failing to comply with legal duties."

The police reminded that a secret investigation was initiated on January 29, 2025, regarding the tender of 785,034,463 TL for the new Central Bank building, which was opened by the Central Tender Commission. Yıldıran informed the court that Tosunoğlu had obtained a "debt-free" certificate from the TRNC Income and Tax Department on January 15, 2025, in order to participate in the tender on January 20-21, 2025, for the amount of 785 million TL excluding VAT. Additionally, Tosunoğlu declared an extra profit of 32 million TL on January 21, 2025.

The police revealed that despite having a debt of 13 million TL, including interest, Tosunoğlu submitted the "debt-free" certificate to the Central Tender Commission.

On February 5, 2025, Tosunoğlu was arrested, and a search of his home revealed the tender file he submitted to the Central Tender Commission on January 29, 2025, as well as an invoice. The police also found the tender participation declaration at the construction company’s office.

The investigation into the company’s accounting records revealed that the source of the extra profit declaration was a 35.2 million TL invoice from Tosunoğlu Construction Ltd to Tosunoğlu Development, a company in which Tosunoğlu is also a shareholder. The invoice, labeled "contracting services," was linked to the fraudulent claim.

Additionally, the tax office’s review of the 2023 financial statement from Doğaltaş Ltd, in which Tosunoğlu is also a shareholder, showed that the expenses listed in the invoice could not be found in the company’s accounts.

Police also discovered that various invoices and receipts from 2023-2024 belonging to Tosunoğlu Construction Ltd were being reviewed. The authorities confirmed that the extra profit declaration invoice issued by Tosunoğlu to Tosunoğlu Development was fraudulent, leading to charges of forgery and circulating false documents.

The police emphasized that the investigation is ongoing, and further examination of the invoices is in progress. They requested that Tosunoğlu be granted bail, stating that he would not be able to interfere with the remaining part of the investigation. Judge Nuray Necdet ruled that Tosunoğlu's exit from the country be prohibited, that he deposit a cash bond of 300,000 TL, report to the authorities every two weeks, and have two guarantors sign bonds worth one million TL each.