Istanbul prosecutors issued detention orders on Friday morning for a new group of suspects in the money-laundering investigation linked to the family of Erzincan MP Mustafa Sarıgül, Anadolu Agency (AA), Sözcü and Yeni Akit reported.
According to AA and Yeni Akit, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office ordered the detention of 17 people, while Sözcü put the number at 19. All three outlets reported that 15 suspects had been detained. AA and Yeni Akit said police were still searching for the remaining two.
What prosecutors say the case is about
The suspects in the latest wave face allegations of membership of an organisation, laundering the proceeds of crime and bribery, according to AA and Yeni Akit.
The investigation began after two German businesspeople filed complaints. They alleged that large sums of money of unclear origin had been laundered through companies in Türkiye and abroad, AA and Yeni Akit reported. NTV reported earlier this week that 27 people were being held in pretrial detention in the probe, and AA gave the same figure on Friday.
Sarıgül’s file sent to Ankara
On 9 November, the Istanbul prosecutor’s office ruled that it lacked jurisdiction over the part of the investigation concerning Sarıgül himself and sent that file to the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, NTV and AA reported. The offences listed in that file include founding a criminal organisation and laundering the proceeds of crime, according to NTV, AA and Evrensel. These are allegations under investigation, and no charges have been brought against him in court.
Sarıgül is a sitting member of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (TBMM) in its 28th term. AA, Sözcü and Yeni Akit did not report on Friday whether a request to lift his parliamentary immunity, known in Türkiye as a fezleke, had been submitted to parliament.
Denials
Sarıgül has denied the accusations against him, Evrensel and AA reported. No statement from him about Friday’s detention orders had been reported by the time of publication.
Sources
- Sarıgül soruşturması: 19 kişi hakkında gözaltı kararı (Memurlar.net / AA)
- Mustafa Sarıgül soruşturmasında yeni gelişme: Çok sayıda gözaltı kararı (Sözcü)
- Mustafa Sarıgül soruşturmasında sıcak gelişme: Çok sayıda kişi için gözaltı kararı verildi (Yeni Akit)
- Mustafa Sarıgül’ün dosyası Ankara’ya gönderildi (NTV)
- Mustafa Sarıgül: En kısa zamanda büyük bir açıklama yapacağım (Evrensel)
Photo: CeeGee / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
