Abdullah Atas, the Turkish businessman convicted of murder, escaped during his leave and is likely to be in Turkey, according to official statements.

The Secretary of State from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Bogdan Despescu, confirmed that Abdullah Atas, a Turkish businessman imprisoned since 2015 for the murder of a police officer, escaped during a leave between January 23 and 26. Atas's former partner stated that she was contacted by someone who claimed he is in Turkey. Despescu mentioned that after the National Administration of Penitentiaries reported that Atas did not return to the prison, tracking procedures were initiated, considering the possibility that he may have left Romania.

Atas, at the age of 45, was sentenced to nearly 23 years in prison for aggravated murder committed in 2015. The National Administration of Penitentiaries ordered preliminary checks, and the Ministry of Justice sent the Control Body to Bucharest-Rahova Penitentiary to investigate the circumstances of the escape. Recent images show Atas in a restaurant in Bucharest, which could provide clues about his route.