15 people including Ömer Sarıgül and Murat Ağırel arrested in money laundering probe

Seventeen suspects detained as part of an investigation into "laundering of assets derived from crime" in Istanbul were referred to the courthouse. A criminal judgeship of peace ordered the arrest of 15 suspects referred with an arrest request. Judicial control was imposed on the 2 suspects referred with a judicial control request.

Those arrested: Ömer Sarıgül, Özgür Bölükbaşı, Sadullah Ergün, Selim Daşdemir, Volkan Aslanbaş, Zekai Erdem, Zekeriya Yasemin, Aylin Kotil, Bayram Özata, Caner Baş, Cavidan Tanrah Artuner, Cihan Durak, Cihat Salman, Murat Ağırel and Mehmet Ali Aslan. Judicial control was imposed on Cemil Vasken Barın and Uğur Kurtulan.

Basis of the investigation

The investigation is being carried out under the coordination of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office by the Financial Crimes Unit of the Istanbul Police. According to the prosecutor's office, it began after German citizens K.P. and M.B. alleged that a large sum of money of unclear origin was laundered through companies set up in Türkiye and abroad. The complainants claimed that a contract worth 80 million euros was drawn up, a transfer of 100 million euros was made, the transfer of a 1 billion euro fund abroad through credit using public power and influence was promised, and a boat worth 1.5 million euros was sold.

The complainants also alleged that they passed information and documents on the matter to Murat Ağırel and were threatened after these were relayed to the people concerned. Based on a joint assessment of the complainants' statements, the audio and video recordings they submitted and other evidence, detention orders were issued for Emir Sarıgül, Ömer Sarıgül, Aylin Kotil, Volkan Aslanbaş, Cavidan Tanrah Artuner and Murat Ağırel. The other suspects were detained in later operations.

Emir Sarıgül, who had a detention order and was a fugitive, surrendered to Financial Crimes Unit teams together with his lawyer. His procedures at the police were reported to be continuing. Allegations concerning Mustafa Sarıgül, a member of the 28th Term of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, will be sent to the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office to be assessed separately.