Fake Engineer Built Dams in Turkey – Including the One That Submerged Hasankeyf

A man posing as a civil engineer using a forged university diploma was awarded multi-million dollar government contracts — including the construction of Ilısu Dam, which led to the destruction of the ancient city of Hasankeyf.

Diploma Forgery Scandal Widens with Dam Construction Revelation

The ongoing investigation into a massive diploma forgery ring in Turkey has revealed alarming new details: Mehmet Baykara, the head of Malamira Construction, was found to have used a fake civil engineering degree to win major infrastructure tenders from the Turkish government.

According to the indictment, Baykara was falsely registered as a graduate of Yıldız Technical University’s Civil Engineering Department, with the forged diploma dated August 27, 2024. That same day, a degree verification inquiry was made via the national e-Government portal (e-Devlet), raising suspicions of coordinated fraud.

Fake Engineer Built Four Dams and More

Baykara’s company, Malamira İnşaat, has completed several strategic dam projects under contracts from Turkey’s State Hydraulic Works Directorate (DSİ), including:

• Ilısu Dam on the Tigris River (which submerged Hasankeyf)

• Şırnak Dam

• Uludere Dam

• Kavşaktepe Dam

Malamira is currently managing two additional state-backed projects:

• The Ereğli-İvriz Irrigation System (DSİ)

• The Eruh-Fındık Road Construction Project (General Directorate of Highways)

The fact that a non-qualified individual built major national infrastructure has sparked public outrage.

Baykara Claims Ignorance

Speaking to investigators, Baykara denied any knowledge of the forged diploma, claiming he only learned about it after being summoned for questioning. He also denied using the e-Government portal to verify his supposed graduation on the day the fake diploma was issued.

Baykara suggested the search may have been conducted by one of his employees, distancing himself from any involvement in the forgery.

Diploma Ring Exposed Through E-Signature Fraud

The broader scandal, exposed earlier this year, involves a criminal network that forged university diplomas using fake electronic signatures (e-imza). These credentials were then inserted into official state systems, including YÖK (Council of Higher Education) and e-Devlet, enabling individuals to pose as engineers, lawyers, and teachers without proper qualifications.

Baykara’s case marks the first known instance of fake credentials being used to complete critical public infrastructure projects.