15 detained in Sarıgül investigation, 2 suspects at large

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has detained 15 suspects in an investigation into allegations that large sums of money of unknown origin were laundered through companies established at home and abroad. The prosecutor's office issued detention orders for 17 suspects on charges of "membership in an organization," "laundering of criminal proceeds" and "bribery"; 15 people were caught in the operation, and the search for 2 fugitive suspects continues.

The names of those detained were announced as Ahmet Tunç Akan, Sibel Aslanbaş, Arda Ali Can, Rıza Selim Demir, Hülya Turan, Meltem Ülgez, Elif Gülhan Eskiciooğlu, Gamze Kılınç Büyük, Alper Gündüz, Ramazan Elmas, Burak Çelebi, Mustafa Körpe, Yılmaz Güney, Remzi Onuk and Emin Eres.

According to an earlier statement by the prosecutor's office, the investigation was launched on the allegation that German citizens K.P. and M.B. carried out transactions aimed at laundering large sums of money of unknown origin through companies established at home and abroad. The complainants alleged that "a contract worth 80 million euros was drawn up," that "a transfer transaction of 100 million euros was carried out," that "it was promised that a fund of 1 billion euros would be moved abroad by way of credit by using public power and influence," and that "a boat sale worth 1.5 million euros was made."

The file recorded that the allegations concerning Mustafa Sarıgül, a deputy of the 28th legislative term of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM), would be referred to the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office to be assessed separately. A lack-of-jurisdiction ruling had been issued for the investigation file concerning Sarıgül on charges of "forming a criminal organization," "sexual abuse of a child," "laundering assets derived from crime" and "aggravated sexual assault," and the file was sent to Ankara.

Earlier in the investigation, 28 suspects, including Ömer Sarıgül, had been arrested, while Emir Sarıgül was released with a judicial control measure in the form of "house arrest." Following findings that Istanbul Şişli Vocational School was also used, a trustee was appointed to the school, and school director Selin Sarılı along with 10 other people were detained and subsequently released under judicial control. Emir Sarıgül, who is under house arrest, gave his statement for the 4th time within the scope of the investigation.