Minister Gürlek: Voluntary Returns in Fund Probes Do Not Remove Legal Liability

Justice Minister Akın Gürlek said in a statement on the fund investigations run by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office that voluntary returns made in this context will not remove the legal liability of individuals and companies. Gürlek said protecting the rights of good-faith investors is among their priorities.

Saying they are acting in line with the will set out by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Gürlek used the following words:

We are carefully maintaining the distinction between opportunists and good-faith investors in the fund investigations.

Justice Minister Akın Gürlek

Returns to be examined

Gürlek stressed that voluntary returns will not change the course of the investigations. He said returns that help redress victims' losses will not obstruct the conduct of the investigations or the assessment of evidence. He said the priority is for the returned amounts to reach the rightful owners.

The minister said the source, timing and amount of the returns, and the way they are delivered to rightful owners, will be examined meticulously, and that allegations about the people and transactions concerned will also be assessed legally in light of the evidence obtained.

Protective measures on assets

According to Gürlek, protective measures have been applied to the assets of individuals and companies deemed linked to the transactions under investigation, in order to prevent assets from being smuggled out, transferred or concealed. If new information, documents and evidence emerge and legal conditions are met, the relevant judicial authorities will apply additional asset measures.

Gürlek noted that, in coordination with the relevant institutions, the necessary steps will be taken to conduct the investigations soundly and redress victims' losses. He concluded his statement by saying they will work with determination so that no unlawful act goes unanswered, victims' losses are redressed and justice is fully served.