‘Social media’ complaints increase by half during the pandemic

* Photo: Serhat Çağdaş - İstanbul / AA

Click to read the article in Turkish

The opening ceremony of the 2021-2021 judicial year in İstanbul was held at the İstanbul Courthouse in Çağlayan today (September 1).

The opening ceremony was attended by İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Şaban Yılmaz, İstanbul Justice Commission Chair Okan Albayrak, İstanbul Security Director Zafer Aktaş, İstanbul Provincial Gendarmerie Commander Yusuf Kenan Topçu, İstanbul Regional Court of Justice Presiding Judge Murat Boylu, İstanbul Regional Court of Justice Public Prosecutor Metin Sarıhan, İstanbul Regional Administrative Court Public Prosecutor Ahmet Cüneyt Yılmaz, the Public Prosecutors of Bakırköy, Gaziosmanpaşa, Küçükçekmece and Silivri districts, Deputy Governor of İstanbul, deputy public prosecutors, judges, prosecutors and courthouse personnel.

'Internet fraud has increased by 70 percent'

Making a speech at the ceremony, İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Şaban Yılmaz said that some crimes became more widespread with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially during lockdowns.

"For instance, we have recently witnessed a serious increase in the number of crimes committed via social media applications such as Instagram, Facebook and Twitter," stated Yılmaz, briefly adding:

"I would like to share the following information about the İstanbul Courthouse: The number of applications submitted to our prosecutor's office regarding such acts that we categorize as cyber crimes has increased by 50 percent when compared to the previous year.

"Moreover, the number of Internet fraud offenses has seen a record increase of 70 percent in this period. And we have reinforced our institutional capacity to effectively investigate the virtually committed crimes that have been gradually increasing. Within this context, I am glad to indicate that our latest number of judges and prosecutors has increased."

An opening ceremony will also be held for the 2021-2022 judicial year in Ankara with the participation of President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

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(AS/SD)