Man Dies After Punch from Friend Over Unpaid Debt in Istanbul
Istanbul, March 12 – A dispute over a debt in Istanbul escalated tragically when 47-year-old Seyit Göçüm died after being punched by his friend, Gürsoy K., a former boxer. The incident occurred on January 14, 2026, in the Pınartepe neighborhood of Büyükçekmece. Gürsoy K. had served as Göçüm’s wedding witness just last year.
A Debt That Spiraled Out of Control
According to reports from Demirören News Agency, Gürsoy K. had lent Seyit Göçüm 400,000 Turkish Liras two years ago. Over time, Göçüm had repaid approximately 4 million Turkish Liras, including interest. However, Gürsoy K. allegedly continued to demand more money, leading to ongoing friction between the two.
The situation became more complicated when Seyit Göçüm fell ill and, on doctor’s advice, stopped working. His wife, Mona Behmeni, took over the management of his business, in addition to her own beauty center.
Final Confrontation and Tragic Outcome
On January 13, 2026, Gürsoy K. visited Göçüm’s workplace, where Mona Behmeni was present, and again demanded money. Behmeni reportedly told him, “We gave you two luxury cars, we made payments numerous times both by hand and through the bank. Why isn’t this debt ending? I’ll even give you my beauty center to close this matter.” Gürsoy K. then told her that her husband should come and settle the issue.
The following day, Gürsoy K. and Seyit Göçüm met at a cafe near the workplace. After a brief discussion, they left the cafe. While walking on the street, Gürsoy K. punched Göçüm. Witnesses who saw Göçüm collapse immediately informed his wife, Mona Behmeni, who was still at the workplace.
When Behmeni came out, Gürsoy K. also assaulted her. The couple then called the police. While police were investigating the scene, Seyit Göçüm fainted and was rushed to the hospital, where he later died. The entire incident was captured by security cameras from nearby businesses.
Wife’s Account of the Events
Mona Behmeni recounted the harrowing events, stating, “My husband had an illness. Doctors told him to avoid stress. So, my husband quit his job to rest at home. I left my beauty center and started managing my husband’s affairs. On January 13, Gürsoy K. came to my husband’s workplace and asked, ‘Where is your husband?’ I told him my husband was ill and resting at home. He then said my husband still owed him money. I asked him what debt he was talking about, saying, ‘Hasn’t this debt ended yet?’ and offered him my beauty center. He replied, ‘Let your husband come tomorrow and settle this, or I will kill him first and then demolish your beauty center.’ I told my husband what happened that evening, but I didn’t tell him about Gürsoy K.’s threats to me.”
“On January 14, my husband and Gürsoy sat at a cafe next to the workplace. After sitting for 5-6 minutes, they got up. While walking on the road, Gürsoy punched my husband, even though he knew he was ill. When my husband collapsed, neighbors came and informed me. When I came out, Gürsoy also hit me. Passersby separated us. Then my husband told me to call the police and a lawyer. The police and lawyer arrived. My husband explained everything, and at that moment, he collapsed in front of the police. I lost my husband,” Behmeni stated.
Threats and Plea for Justice
Following the incident, Gürsoy K. was apprehended by police and subsequently arrested. However, Mona Behmeni claims she has been threatened by Gürsoy K.’s family. “The pain was not easy. I tried to compose myself a bit. But Gürsoy’s family threatened me. They said, ‘You are a foreigner, we will deport you; withdraw your complaint.’ I can’t leave my house, I can’t go to work. I don’t want money, I just want justice. He ruined our lives. I was married for only nine months. I will stand by my complaint until the end,” Behmeni said.
Source: Demirören News Agency, Habertürk
