Yasemin Gundogan admits $8.6M Germany heist, says high Istanbul costs forced surrender

Yasemin Gundogan, who worked at Loomis, a cash transport company in Bremen, has admitted to stealing approximately $8.6 million but claims she, too, was deceived by her accomplices.

The high-profile trial, which began this week in the Bremen State Court, has captivated Germany.

• Gundogan revealed that the crime began as a joke among friends and eventually became a calculated heist.

• “My job was to put the money into trash containers instead of the secure safes. Then, my accomplices would take it from there,” Gundogan stated.

• She expected to receive a significant portion of the stolen money, but she claims she ended up with only $21,000 to $26,000.

She alleged that her accomplices “tricked” her, taking the bulk of the cash and leaving her with little to show for the crime. “I was deceived,” she told the court.

Life as fugitive in Türkiye: Gundogan’s decision to surrender after 2 years

After the 2021 theft, Gundogan fled to Türkiye, traveling through Vienna. She lived in hiding in Istanbul for nearly 2 years, but financial challenges eventually led her to return to Germany.

Istanbul is very expensive, and living as a fugitive is costly. When I ran out of money, I decided to turn myself in.

Yasemin Gundogan said, explaining her decision to surrender

In March 2024, Gundogan returned to Bremen and surrendered at the airport. Her lawyer, Carsten Scheuchzer, emphasized that Gundogan wanted to confront the charges.

“She didn’t have a Turkish ID, barely spoke Turkish, and couldn’t settle in Türkiye,” Scheuchzer said, adding that Gundogan hoped to reconnect with her family in Germany. Scheuchzer stated that Gundogan’s ultimate goal is to “face the consequences and return to a normal life.”

Yasemin Gundogan’s outfit at court sparks media scrutiny in Germany

Her appearance in court, dressed in a luxury designer coat and wearing high-end sunglasses, has sparked criticism and media scrutiny across Germany.

Observers noted the stark contrast between her expensive attire and her claims of financial hardship that led her to surrender. German media outlets pointed at her choice of clothing, questioning how someone who professed to be out of money could afford such high-end items.

This detail has raised doubts among the public about Yasemin Gundogan’s narrative, with some suggesting it undermines her portrayal of herself as a victim who was left nearly penniless by her accomplices.

Turkish fugitive claims accomplices led her into crime as prosecutors pursue her full accountability

Gundogan named several accomplices, including a former boyfriend with a criminal record in Türkiye, as the people who encouraged her to commit the heist.

She explained that she was going through a difficult time after her boyfriend’s arrest for drug-related offenses and felt vulnerable to persuasion. Gundogan stated, “The plan started as a joke among friends, but it quickly turned serious.” However, she declined to name the accomplices directly in court.

Although Gundogan admitted her role in the theft, she denied any substantial financial benefit, claiming that she did not live a luxurious life.

Nonetheless, prosecutors are scrutinizing her finances and noted her high-end attire and designer sunglasses worn to court.

Gundogan faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted, with the court still seeking answers on the whereabouts of most of the stolen money.

Who is Yasemin Gundogan?

Gundogan, a Turkish-German citizen, gained nationwide attention in Germany after her involvement in one of the country’s most talked-about heists. Gundogan, who worked as a cash handler for Loomis in Bremen, managed to steal €8.2 million (approximately $8.6 million) by concealing the cash in trash containers and passing it to accomplices.

Born and raised in Germany, Gundogan reportedly struggled with personal issues, including a turbulent relationship with an ex-boyfriend, which she claims made her vulnerable to influence.

After the heist in 2021, she fled to Türkiye and lived in hiding for nearly two years before surrendering.