A Turkish taxi driver has been arrested for killing a female client and setting her house on fire with a pal to cover his tracks.

Taxi driver Ergin Akturk, age not disclosed, wanted to meet Fatma Mavi, 31, a regular customer he met a month before, at her home in the district of Bahcelievler in the north-western Turkish province of Istanbul to discuss a problem about money on 1st November 2020.

Ergin brought a can of fuel and a friend named Ali Ihsan Sari, age not disclosed, with him to Fatma’s house.

According to the news site Bursada Bugun, Fatma asked Ergin for the TRY 5,000 (GBP 430.70) she loaned to him, but when Ergin did not want to give the money back, a quarrel broke out between the two.

Ergin, who first allegedly strangled Fatma with his bare hands, then poured gasoline all over the house with the help of his friend Ali Ihsan and set the house on fire before fleeing the scene, according to Bursada Bugun.

Medical teams arrived at the scene and confirmed Fatma’s death while the two suspects were arrested by the authorities.

If convicted, Ergin and Ali Ihsan could be be sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment. According to the Turkish Penal Code, prisoners sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment can be paroled after serving at least 36 years, or 40 years if given more than one sentence, compared to 24 years for a life sentence.

The first hearing is expected to take place in the coming days.