Update

GEORGE NEWS - The magic carpet ride of con man, Tarkan Cakmak, is finally nearing an end after he was found guilty on a charge of fraud in the Thembalethu Regional court on Wednesday 14 November.

In May 2016 Cakmak conned Gallery 7 in Eden Meander Lifestyle Centre out of four Persian carpets worth more than R300 000. He was arrested at his own carpet business in Greenacres Shopping Centre in Port Elizabeth shortly afterwards and released on R10 000 bail in June that year.

Cakmak took four Persian rugs on consignment at Gallery 7 as he said he first wanted to see if they suited his house in Sands Road in Wilderness. According to store manager, Lettie Kümm, Cakmak told her that he wanted to purchase three rugs for his wedding anniversary and he wanted to surprise his wife. To another employee, Hassan Aittaleb, he said he wanted to buy it for his wife as a birthday gift.

After taking the carpets, Aittaleb accompanied Cakmak to the said address in Wilderness. When they stopped next to the house, Aittaleb was told to get out of the car, after which Cakmak made a U-turn, drove off and never returned. 

During cross examination earlier this year Cakmak said that Aittaleb wanted a lift to Wilderness.

Read more in Thursday's George Herald and online.