Cyprus-Forum.com

[bill cobbett]

Stumbled across this interesting little letter from the AGA ladies on another forum. Have taken the liberty of reproducing it here in full ... er ... with the addition of some quote marks.

Sorry ladies but you ain't gonna be gifted a villa as per the Orams.



To those thinking of a "TRNC" property purchase
To The People of the "TRNC"

We are a group of British housewives, and their families, who it would appear are causing an upset to the Construction Industry in the beautiful "TRNC". Well, we are here to try to explain ourselves and hope that you understand the reasoning behind our actions.

For many years now, some since 2003, we have been waiting for either our properties to be built or a refund of our monies paid. We are all the victims of AGA Development/Gary John Robb/Tahir Soycan and numerous other Directors of AGA which currently include Cafer Gurcafer, Head of the Cyprus Turkish Building Contractors Association. We were sold villas marketed by the sales team of Unwins Estate Agents. The villas were going to be built by AGA Developments. Both these companies have British and Turkish Cypriot Directors. We were all guided legally by Turkish Cypriot lawyers as to land issues, deeds, Contracts etc.

We have given these persons over 4 years now to put right the wrongs they have caused, and we have been completely ignored. Back in April 2007 we handed in a request by over 150 AGA buyers for help from Mr Soyer - we heard nothing from his office. We have put in our complaints to the Government's Property Complaints Office, but to date none of the complaints has resulted in a refund or other solution from this Government Dept. We have written thousands of letters and emails to anyone we thought would listen, and again hit a brick wall from within the Government of the "TRNC". We have visited TRNC offices in the UK and Cyprus and met with lawyers and many officials only to find a wall of silence from within the "TRNC". But the interesting fact is that in all this time while looking for justice, not only for ourselves but all AGA victims, we have unwittingly collated documented evidence of high level corruption which we will at some stage release into the public domain.

We are predominantly three families who are now in serious financial trouble with no light at the end of the tunnel for the return of our monies. We are not property developers, millionaires or business people, just three ordinary families who fell in love with the "TRNC" and wanted to put some “roots” there. We have been accused of “cashing-in” on cheap property, but, the price that we were paying at that time was no different to those in the rest of the EU. We all fell in love with the TRNC because it is unspoilt and has some of the friendliest people in the world, warm and helpful and welcoming. However, the island is a magnet to criminals and their activities, and this has been to the cost of the "TRNC" and its own people, not only us. Ask yourselves how these people manage to buy the biggest houses on the island and drive the most expensive cars? You do not see the average Turkish Cypriot in a Ferrari or an equally expensive 4 x 4, no, the ordinary people of Northern Cyprus struggle to find work and keep a roof over their heads - the same as ordinary people in the rest of Europe. Could this be due to the high level corruption that we have seen to exist in the "TRNC"? We do not wish to interrupt the business dealings of those honest business people who promote all that is good in the "TRNC", but unless we make ourselves heard we will continue to be ignored and lose everything we have worked hard for in our lives. Interest rates in Britain are rising fast and we are all paying a huge amount of money every month for something that we do not have and are unlikely to have, whilst various directors of AGA take delivery of brand new cars on a regular basis.

You may ask yourselves as to why we have not taken the legal route in the "TRNC". The straight answer to that is we have. One of our group actually has a Judgment, which was granted in April 2006. To date they cannot get anyone to enforce this Judgment. You have to ask why no one can enforce this Judgment?? We have evidence of three lawyers that cannot seem to enforce it. Another has been awaiting a Judgment since Oct 2005 - this family are still awaiting news on this Judgment after 2 years. We therefore have very little faith in the legal system of the "TRNC", and now the British High Commission has stepped in to monitor the effectiveness of this legal system - to see if in fact it does exist for ordinary people, or is it a one-way street for those in good favour of the "TRNC" Government or other influential type bodies that seem to exist within Northern Cyprus?? Time will tell, we hope to be proved wrong.

We as AGA BUYERS ACTION GROUP cannot afford to be still and quiet any longer, we are fighting for the survival of our families. Our families are suffering and we want a stable family life just like everybody does. All we ask is for a refund of what we have paid, what has been stolen from us. We are starting to make waves now; this wave we hope will become a tsunami as our media campaign grows. Why is the Government so short sighted? Why can’t the Government see that we could also be a bonus to the "TRNC" and promote it as a safe haven in which to purchase a property? We could help the Tourist Industry to boom again, we have gained the knowledge and the experience to do this, but unless we are being seen to be helped, we can only fight for what is rightfully ours, and this in conclusion could have a wider implication on damaging the TRNC economy. We do not want to hurt anybody, especially innocent people like ourselves who are just trying to make the best of their lives. So we apologise to the innocent people of the TRNC but we hope that you understand from what we have said, our need to be seen and heard; after all we are only trying to safeguard our futures and as a lioness does, protect her pride from danger.

The "Northern Cyprus Government" must shoulder a lot of blame regarding the corruption. They know the outcome of Police Investigations into missing funds regarding AGA, and have not published anything, or indeed not one person has been brought to justice for what they have done to both UK and Turkish Cypriot people, this is not ACCEPTABLE IN ANY CIVILIZED SOCIETY. We urge Ferdi Sabit Soyer, Prime Minister of the "TRNC", to stand by his statement that the construction sector is important to him and that "FOREIGNERS CAN KEEP CONFIDENCE...AND MAY COMFORTABLY PURCHASE HOUSES FROM THIS COUNTRY". If this is not the case, Mr Soyer and his Government should issue a statement to that effect so people are aware that there is no TRNC commitment to its foreign buyers and its construction industry. If you wish to see the full extract of the publication, "North Cyprus, A Comprehensive Guide to Buying Your Home, by the Cyprus Turkish Building Contractors Association". where Mr Soyer, and other officials make promises they appear to not want to keep, please contact us at the below PO Box number or at agabuyersactiongroup at yahoo in the uk It will be our pleasure to send this to you. The same publication states that if members of the Association do not adhere to its strict standards "THE PENALTY THAT THE LAW REQUIRES IS IMPRISONMENT". AGA Developments Limited is listed as a member - as far as we are aware not one Director has been prosecuted with any offence, even though hundreds of people have lost millions of UK pounds. They are allowed to walk freely while their customers suffer.


If anyone has any information that could help us in our plight to expose any corruption, information that we can add to that which we already have, you can send it anonymously to:

AGA BUYERS ACTION GROUP
P.O. BOX 261
LEEDS
LS16 0BZ
United Kingdom

Our very best regards to you all and thank you for listening to us.

Aga Buyers Action Group

[Hermes]

Ladies,

Whose land exactly did you attempt to build your property on? Were you aware that the majority of the land in the north of Cyprus is occupied land that legally belongs to someone else? If you knew these people are unscrupulous, are you surprised you have had your money stolen?

The "TRNC" is a strange place to fall in love with. Your "developer" Gary Robb was a fugitive drug-trafficker. The leading officials of the "TRNC" are not politicians in the sense that we understand them but crooks and war criminals on the make. In the "TRNC" it is the criminals and thieves who make and enforce the law. It is a mirror-society to the rest of the planet. In the "TRNC" right is wrong and wrong is right. We know all about them in the South. They called their brutal invasion a "peace operation" and they call the theft of our land an "exchange". Nothing that you think makes sense, does. It is an Alice in Wonderland world. Only there is nothing wonderful about it.

The "law" serves the unlawful and corrupt. They make their own laws and the law protects their interests. They do not take kindly to others infringing on their criminality. In their logic, criminality is their "right". We hear it all the time from them. When they speak of their "rights", they mean the right to keep what they have stolen. This is the world of the "TRNC". Expect no justice from the system. The system is itself illegal, unrecognised. Law and justice are a mirage. They can literally get away with murder.

For this reason, paranoia runs deep. They fear justice, real justice, more than anything. Witness their hysteria this week at the verdict in the British courts over the Orams case. Justice came in the form of a mild-mannered architect and a dedicated lawyer. But this was a case built up over years with recourse to the international legal system. Not the "courts" of the "TRNC".

You have found to your cost that the "TRNC" is a kleptocracy. A gangsters' paradise. They prey on the greedy, the chancers, the gullible, knowing that the law cannot touch them. If it's some consolation, their days are numbered. The Orams case has done for them. It took a British court to nail the coffin on their scams. For you, I'm afraid it's all a bit late.

You should have perhaps paid more attention to the UK Foreign Office advice on buying property in the "TRNC". Maybe it wasn't worded strongly enough. Maybe they could have done more to warn you. But I guess we're all adults and must take responsibility for our decisions. You live and learn, don't you?

[Svetlana]

This Statement is a couple of years old now - and I do not think anything has changed! This was a huge development of several hundred residences! Last January, Gary Robb (and his mother!) were deported back to the UK and arrested on their arrival for 'alleged' Drug offences, so I doubt he will be much help now - or for the next 10 years!


lana

[Pyrpolizer]

He, he,he they have fallen in love with 'trnc" imish. One thief complaining the other crook has cheated him...
Well you fell in love dear Ladies, now get fucked and shut up...

[boomerang]

what's the world coming too when there is no honour between thieves, huh?...

[miltiades]

Like most other cheapskates these ladies are totally naive and very gullible.
To invest in a part of the world that is internationally recognized as being under the occupation of a foreign country is blatantly stupid.
Let me however remind all that hundreds of Brits in the RoC are having great difficulties in obtaining deeds for properties that they have paid. An absolute disgrace and the RoC ought to take severe measures to ensure that developers are acting within the law .

[B25]

Like most other cheapskates these ladies are totally naive and very gullible.
To invest in a part of the world that is internationally recognized as being under the occupation of a foreign country is blatantly stupid.
Let me however remind all that hundreds of Brits in the RoC are having great difficulties in obtaining deeds for properties that they have paid. An absolute disgrace and the RoC ought to take severe measures to ensure that developers are acting within the law .

This is in hand with legislation already drawn up and being discussed by the house.

It is expected to be released soon. Whether this works as intended we will have to wait and see, but efforts have been made to try and solve this issue.

[Gasman]

This is old news Bill. These are the group of ladies who are now banned from posting on Cyprus44! They got no support at all from the other Brit buyers over there. Just a barrage of abuse accusing them of rocking the boat and risking spoiling it for all the other buyers!

I am clearing my inbox today (gawd I hope my leg gets better soon - I am spending FAR too much time reading about all this on the net whilst housebound).

I have many emails from 'NorthCyprusLiving'. Subject lines like 'If you are a member of CY44 you must read this!' and 'CY44 down', 'CY44 Up again", and entreaties for people to join the new site. lol!

One of the reasons for Cy44 being shut down was that it was to stop the members panicking in the light of the Orams verdict.

Am just having a little look at the NorthCyprusLiving site now. Same old, same old, really. I did wonder of some of those battling are the same ones at each others' throats on here!

Most recent article:

Greek Cypriots have already issued 9,500 title deeds for TC property

http://www.northcyprusfreepress.com/

Don't know if you have to join to post - I join everything as soon as it appears. Less likely to get kicked off when the brown stuff starts flying that way - they are highly suspicious of new members. Can't think why - if, as they profess, they have nothing to be worried about?

[Gasman]

I should have added that I don't have any more sympathy for the AGA buyers than I do for the Orams or any other Brits who bought in TRNC.

But it was very interesting to see the AGA ladies being savaged and called 'traitors' and worse when they tried to take steps to get some sort of restitution for having paid and got nothing.

My belief is that the sort of people who happily buy this disputed land and property are only out for themselves.

They claimed full sympathy for the Orams (where the Courts were trying to take the property away) but none for these ladies and others where it was crooked builders, TRNC mismanagement or whatever else that diddled them.

[Gasman]

Ooops! Forget the foregoing Bill - I see you are already in there and posting!