A car salesman in Turkey who was accused of stealing money from the business allegedly tried to kill his boss by spiking his drink with a COVID-19 patient’s saliva, according to a report.
Ramazan Cimen, a three-year employee at a dealership in Adana, told his boss Ibrahim Unverdi that he gave the missing money – about $30,000 – to a loan shark, The Sun reported, citing the Hurriyet newspaper.
Unverdi had given him the sales proceeds to take to the office before he absconded with the cash, according to the report.
Unverdi, who finally reached Cimen on the phone, claimed that another staff member told him the suspect had bought COVID-tainted saliva for about $70.
He accused Cimen of pouring the saliva into his drink before stealing the money — but that, luckily, he did not drink it.
“This is the first time I have heard of such a bizarre killing technique. Thank God I did not become sick. God is always with the good,” Unverdi said.
He told prosecutors that he began receiving threatening messages from Cimen, who became infuriated after the incident was reported in the press.
“I could not kill you with the virus. I will shot you in the head next time,” he allegedly wrote in one of the messages.
“I would rather he did kill me rather than trying to infect me with the virus,” Unverdi said. “My mother and father have a chronic illness. If he infected me with COVID-19, I could have in turn infected my family and those around me.”
He added: “At least if he shot me in the head, I would be the only one to die. No need to be so evil.”
Unverdi’s wife, Dilek, claimed that Cimen also planned to infect her in the same manner.
“Me and my kids can’t leave the house. We seem to be in prison in our own home,” she said. “I trust justice and I want this man to get the necessary punishment.”
Police are on the hunt for Cimen, who has been formally accused of attempted murder and threatening behavior.