27.01.2026 00:54
In an operation conducted in 8 provinces centered in Istanbul, 15 of the 38 suspects detained on the allegation that the income obtained from illegal betting and fraud was laundered through PAPEL Electronic Money and Payment Services Inc. were arrested.
In an operation carried out in Istanbul, 38 suspects were detained on the grounds of money laundering from illegal betting and fraud. Subsequently, 15 people were arrested, while the others were released under judicial control.
NUMEROUS DETENTIONS IN THE OPERATION AGAINST PAPEL
According to the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, based on the audit report of the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey (CBRT) and the reports of the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK), 38 suspects were detained on the allegation of money laundering through PAPEL Electronic Money and Payment Services Inc., and their procedures at the Istanbul Courthouse in Çağlayan have been completed.
15 PEOPLE ARRESTED
Of the 17 suspects whose statements were taken at the prosecutor's office, 21 suspects were referred to the duty magistrate court with a request for judicial control measures. The court arrested 15 suspects, while judicial control measures were applied to 23 suspects.
WHAT HAPPENED?
Teams from the Financial Crimes Fighting Branch of the Istanbul Police Department, in coordination with the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, had initiated an investigation against PAPEL Electronic Money and Payment Services Inc. and its company officials based on the audit report of the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey (CBRT) and the reports of the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK).
In the investigations, the teams determined that the criminal proceeds obtained from illegal betting and illegal forex/fraud activities were systematically funneled into the financial system by facilitating the transfer of money through electronic money and payment service providers, and attempts were made to launder the money through numerous domestic and foreign companies.
It was identified that some suspects, who served as software engineers, information technology personnel, and project managers within the organizational structure, actively participated in the transfer and concealment of criminal proceeds obtained from illegal betting and illegal forex/fraud activities through electronic money infrastructures, software systems, and financial routing mechanisms, thus committing the crime of "facilitating the transfer of money."
A detention order was issued for 41 suspects who were assessed to have taken an active role in operational, administrative, and technical processes within the organizational hierarchy, participating in activities related to the routing of criminal proceeds through software infrastructures, management of electronic money accounts, and concealment of financial flows.
In a simultaneous operation organized by the Financial Crimes Fighting Branch of the Istanbul Police Department in Istanbul, Ankara, Antalya, Balıkesir, Muğla, Tokat, Kocaeli, and Bursa, 38 suspects were captured. As part of the investigation, the suspects' assets were seized, and a trustee was appointed to the Papel payment institution by the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (SDIF).