Journalist Ağırel and Ömer Sarıgül among 15 arrested

In an operation coordinated by the Istanbul Chief Prosecutor's Office and conducted by the Istanbul Police Department's Financial Crimes Unit, journalist Murat Ağırel and Ömer Sarıgül, son of YENİ Party MP Mustafa Sarıgül, were arrested on October 16.

According to reports from Diken and NTV, the investigation was initiated following a complaint by German citizens K.P. and M.B. The two alleged that large sums of money with unclear origins were being laundered through companies established domestically and abroad, and reported that they were threatened after providing information and documents related to the Sarıgül family to Ağırel.

Of the 17 people detained in the operation, 15 were arrested and 2 were referred to the civil court for judicial monitoring. Among those arrested is Aylin Kotil, a former spouse and politician. Emir Sarıgül, for whom a detention order was issued but who was abroad, came to police on October 16 and gave a statement; proceedings were reported to be continuing.

The Istanbul Chief Prosecutor's Office announced that it would forward the allegations against Mustafa Sarıgül to the Ankara Chief Prosecutor's Office.

Ăğırel, who was under house arrest monitoring, was detained on the morning of October 16. It is recalled that Ağırel was also arrested and released in 2024 under a separate investigation, during which the case proceeded to trial phase.