Kahraman Sadıkoğlu

Kahraman Sadıkoğlu is a Turkish businessman. He owns the Istanbul-based Tuzla Shipyard and is the head of Dubai-based International Marine Contractors. It is believed that he has personal wealth of US$10 billion and regarded as the richest man in Turkey.

He paid for the restoration of one of the largest yachts in the world, the "Savarona". She was purchased by the Turkish government in 1938 for use as a presidential yacht by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, but was later allowed to fall into disrepair. Sadikoğlu operates her as a charter ship on a 49-year lease from the government.

In December 2005, Sadıkoğlu was kidnapped in the Iraqi port city of Umm Qasr by terrorists, who demanded a US$25 million ransom. [ [http://www.diggersrealm.com/mt/archives/000564.html Kahraman Sadikoglu, Turkish Businessman, Kidnapped By Terrorists In Iraq : Diggers Realm ] ] He was released in February 2006 following the payment of a much smaller sum, said by his wife to be "less than $1m" and by the Turkish newspaper "Vatan" to be $500,000. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4266873.stm BBC NEWS | World | Middle East | Turkish businessman freed in Iraq ] ]

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