Kara Haydar investigation expands: wedding gold seized in Van, wife detained in Istanbul

The investigation into money laundering from proceeds of crime, being conducted by the Van Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against Mehmet Fatih Tançalan, known on social media as "Vanlı Kara Haydar," is expanding its scope. Tançalan's wife Çağla Öz Tançalan has been apprehended and detained in Istanbul.

Teams from the Van Provincial Police Directorate's Public Security Branch previously conducted a search at a house and its outbuildings in Muradiye district; jewelry given to Tançalan's wife at their wedding and cash were seized. The homeowner S.A. was also detained.

Çağla Öz Tançalan, who was detained by teams from the Istanbul Police Directorate's Financial Crimes Investigation Department, is expected to be brought to Van. Tançalan's mother N.O., mentioned in a MASAK report, was previously detained in Istanbul, and M.S.T., a relative of Tançalan's, was detained in Muradiye.

The investigation was initiated by the Van Chief Public Prosecutor's Office following public uproar over images of substantial amounts of gold, foreign currency, and Turkish lira displayed at the couple's wedding in Van. Tançalan was detained on September 8; the on-duty judge before whom he was referred issued a decision to remand him in custody on charges of money laundering.