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Liridon Rexhepi, a Kosovo national accused of acting as the financial coordinator for Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad in Türkiye, is facing up to 35 years in prison, according to an indictment filed by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office.
The indictment, prepared by the Office of the Chief Public Prosecutor for Terror Crimes Investigation, alleges that Rexhepi transferred funds sent by Mossad to individuals, both Turkish and foreign nationals, who were under investigation for espionage.
These transfers were reportedly made to support intelligence operations, including surveillance and data collection.
The investigation, launched after joint efforts by Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) and the Istanbul Police Department’s Counterterrorism Branch, found that Rexhepi worked with local collaborator Yildiray Boztepe to conduct drone surveillance on residential areas where Palestinian nationals live, particularly in the Buyukcekmece and Basaksehir districts.
Prosecutors state that the surveillance included photographs and video footage of buildings and residential sites, which were allegedly intended for further intelligence analysis and potential operational planning.
The indictment details that the drone operator, Boztepe, received money via Western Union transfers under the names "Ardit Lusufi" and "Festim Lusufi," both allegedly linked to Rexhepi. The funds were used for aerial reconnaissance of sites where Palestinian nationals reside.
The payments were reportedly negotiated through encrypted messages with a contact known only as “Abdullah,” who is believed to be a Mossad operative using multiple aliases.
Prosecutors assert, "For all these reasons, it is assessed that the suspects obtained classified information such as residential addresses and images of individuals targeted by Israeli intelligence in Türkiye, shared them with Israeli intelligence officers, and attempted to identify collective living spaces of those under surveillance."
"It is therefore believed that this intelligence gathering may precede potential operations, including assassination or abduction."
In his testimony, Boztepe claimed that he worked professionally in drone videography and was contacted in 2020 by a man named Abdullah, who used a foreign phone number to request aerial footage of a property.
He said he received multiple similar requests from Abdullah and was paid through different intermediaries without knowing the individuals who transferred the funds.
Boztepe denied knowing the people living at the sites or having any connection to foreign intelligence agencies.
The indictment also reveals that messages found on Boztepe’s phone included detailed discussions about surveillance techniques, including how to identify security points and obtain floor-level data within buildings.
Additionally, prosecutors allege that Boztepe attempted to negotiate prices for conducting surveillance on sites housing Palestinian nationals.
Rexhepi and Boztepe are being charged with "repeated political or military espionage," with prosecutors seeking prison sentences ranging from 18 years and 9 months to 35 years for each.
The indictment has been accepted by a High Criminal Court, and the trial is expected to begin in the coming weeks.
MIT investigations also uncovered that Rexhepi arrived in Türkiye via Antalya Airport on Aug. 24, 2024, and was placed under surveillance immediately.
He was arrested on Aug. 30 following coordinated operations between MIT and the Counterterrorism Branch.
Authorities found that Rexhepi had been facilitating financial transfers from Kosovo and other Eastern European countries to MOSSAD-linked operatives in Türkiye.
These funds were allegedly later used in intelligence operations, including those targeting Syria, and were sometimes converted into cryptocurrency for transfers to Syrian contacts.
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