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Mystery deepens as DOG of missing banker turns up two months after he vanished while walking pet near holiday home
MYSTERY deepened yesterday over the disappearance of a top economics guru more than two months ago - when the dog he had been walking suddenly reappeared unharmed.
Former bank chief Korhan Berzeg, 83, and his Doberman Pinscher dog Tina failed to return from their regular morning walk near his holiday home.
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But his British family were stunned yesterday when Tina trotted into the Turkish village where the pair had set off 72 days earlier - minus her missing master.
Heartbreaking video released to The Sun yesterday showed three-year-old Tina being reunited with Korhan’s British wife Angela, 80.
The dog appeared to have been cared for indoors for weeks before being set free and finding her own way back to Korhan’s holiday home in Turkey’s Marmara region.
But the family are no closer to finding fit and healthy retired bank chief Korhan - who vanished without trace on June 17.
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The dog’s return sparked a surge of police activity yesterday as scores of search experts rushed back to the remote area.
The Sun first raised concerns for the missing former finance expert last month amid dark conspiracy theories linked to his former ties with the Saudi and US governments.
Korhan’s UK based daughter Nisa said: “Tina has clearly been kept indoors all this time - her muscles had wasted and her claws were long suggesting she hadn’t been roaming around.
“But she had clearly been fed and looked after so someone has been keeping her - but was my dad with her and why is she free now?
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“We’re not sure what to think and are so confused we’re not even sure if this is a hopeful sign or not.
“But the Turkish police chief leading the investigation has told us he has never experienced a case anything like this.”
Tina was first spotted earlier this week on a CCTV camera in the Marmara village of Turplu, an 18-minute drive or three-hour mountain trek to the Berzergs’ holiday home in Armutlu Koyu.
She somehow found her own way back to the family’s holiday retreat hours later and a microchip check with a local vet has confirmed her identity.
The dog also appeared excited when reunited with anxious gran Angela from Blandford, Dorset - Korhan’s wife for 52 years.
Police took Tina back to Turplu yesterday/today (Weds) in the hope that she may pick up a scent and lead them to Korhan.
Grandad-of-three Korhan and Angela retired to a beautiful island villa at Buyukada off Istanbul but were at their more modest rural retreat in the Marmara region when he vanished.
He set off after breakfast at 8.30am for his daily 40 minute stroll around a hilly forest trail near Armutlu Koyu with dog Tina and local adopted stray Esmerelda off the leash at his heels.
Esmerelda came home safe - but alone - 20 minutes later.
Three-year-old Doberman bitch Tina has become central to the Turkish hunt because she vanished alongside her owner.
Korhan worked for the US government in Saudi Arabia in the 1980’s then switched to a high-powered role with the Joint Commission On Economic Cooperation in capital Riyadh.
He later advised the Saudis how to shape their booming oil economy and work directly for their government for three years before moving back to the US.
The regular TV pundit later lectured at Istanbul University while working at Alfa Menkul Investment Bank as Chief Economist until it went bust in 2005.
Police probing have looked into his past connections - including his links to the notoriously ruthless Saudi regime behind the butchering of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul in 2018.
The Berzegs have also revealed that was once offered a ministerial post by former President Turgut Özal in the 90’s - but turned it down.
Angela has put up a £30,000 reward - one million Turkish Lira - for information which leads to Korhan’s return.
A police search by more than 300 officers backed by dogs, drones and helicopters found no trace of him after repeatedly scouring vast areas of Gonen in western Turkey.
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Angela said: “I am still hopeful - I have hope that we will find Korhan safe.
“Please help me find Korhan. We've always been a very happy family. We've never had a problem with anyone - I want to go back to our happy days.”
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