Journalist Murat Ağırel among 15 arrested in Sarıgül investigation

Journalist Murat Ağırel, detained in a money laundering investigation led by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, has been arrested. A total of 15 people were arrested, including Ağırel, Ömer Sarıgül, son of Yeni Parti Erzincan MP Mustafa Sarıgül, and his former wife Aylin Kotil.

Investigation and detentions

According to the prosecutor's office, the investigation began with a complaint from German nationals K.P. and M.B. The complainants alleged that large sums of money of unclear origin were laundered through companies set up in Türkiye and abroad. They also claimed they had passed information and documents to Ağırel and were later threatened. The complaint alleges an 80 million euro contract, a 100 million euro transfer, a promise to take a 1 billion euro fund abroad via credit, and a 1.5 million euro boat sale.

Ağırel, who was under house arrest in another investigation, was detained on the morning of 16 October. In the operation, 17 people were detained, including Ömer Sarıgül and Aylin Kotil. The prosecutor's office said the allegations about Mustafa Sarıgül would be sent to the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office for separate evaluation.

The arrest decision

After statements at the prosecutor's office, 15 people were referred to a judgeship with a request for arrest and 2 with a request for judicial control. The Istanbul 10th Criminal Judgeship of Peace ordered the arrest of 15 people; 2 were released under judicial control. In its reasoning, the judgeship cited concrete evidence showing strong suspicion of a crime, the fact that evidence had not been fully collected, and that judicial control would not provide sufficient oversight. The charge cited for Ağırel's arrest was "knowingly and willingly aiding a criminal organization."

At his court hearing, Ağırel noted that he was wearing an electronic ankle monitor. Saying his home was raided at dawn, he stated that despite being under house arrest and a travel ban in another investigation, he was now before a judge with a request for arrest. Ağırel also said that for the first time he is being investigated over a story he did not write.

Others arrested include Özgür Bölükbaşı, Sadullah Ergün, Selim Daşdemir, Volkan Aslanbaş, Zekai Erdem, Zekeriya Yasemin, Bayram Özata, Caner Baş, Cavidan Tanrah Artuner, Cihan Durak, Cihat Salman and Mehmet Ali Aslan.