29.12.2025 22:45
Sezgin Baran Korkmaz, who is being investigated for money laundering charges and is currently a fugitive, appeared on a live broadcast following the arrest of former Habertürk TV executive Veyis Ateş, who he claimed had demanded 10 million Euros from him in connection with a drug investigation. Korkmaz commented on Ateş, stating, "It is not surprising that this wave is moving towards those names that are considered 'untouchable' and 'inaccessible'; this is how it should be."
Fugitive Sezgin Baran Korkmaz, who is being investigated for the crime of "money laundering," made striking statements about current issues during a live broadcast on Sözcü TV. Korkmaz answered questions regarding Veyis Ateş, the former executive of Habertürk TV, who was arrested as part of a drug investigation that particularly involves the media world and famous personalities.
"10 MILLION EURO" ALLEGATION
In the broadcast he connected from the USA, Korkmaz reiterated the claim that Ateş demanded 10 million Euros from him, using the following expressions: "People are surprised to see that this wave is going towards those whom the power side sees as 'untouchable' and 'unachievable.' But actually, this was something that should not have surprised anyone; it was something that was supposed to happen. It used to be that they would intervene, but they didn't. If Veyis Ateş finds the 'courage to ask for this money from someone he had never met that day,' I think the back effects are very important. So there is not just one Veyis Ateş; wasn't something done about him because he asked me for this money? This fight broke out because he said, 'If you don't give this money, this will happen.' So someone can demand 700 thousand from you; you can say no positively or negatively. But if you say 'no,' he said, 'your wife's passport will be canceled, this will happen, that will happen.' Such a thing happened."
"I EXPERIENCED THIS BECAUSE I DID NOT FULFILL WHAT A MEDIA FIGURE SAID"
Korkmaz stated that he has been away from his family during this process, saying, "I couldn't see my wife, my family, my 10-year-old son. I couldn't see my 4-year-old child. I experienced these things because I did not fulfill what a media figure said. Today in Turkey, when you enter the circles that introduce themselves as artists or socialites, you see the extent of the immorality and drug use there," he said.
"THIS SHOULD NOT STAY IN ONE NEIGHBORHOOD"
Korkmaz also addressed the allegations against former Habertürk TV General Manager Mehmet Akif Ersoy, who was arrested in the drug investigation, stating, "When something happens in the media sector, everyone suddenly grabs a shovel and rushes to put out the fire. I do not personally know Mehmet Akif. I participated in his program a few times at Habertürk. If he hadn't experienced these things, everyone would be lined up at his door today. But when he goes through these experiences, everyone in his neighborhood grabs a shovel and runs away. I hear that people I know who are cocaine addicts are shouting 'drug addict' at Mehmet Akif on television today. I laugh at this. This should not stay in one neighborhood; it should spread to the whole neighborhood so that it can be understood that this is really a fight against drugs," he said.
LEGAL PROCESS AGAINST HIM
Korkmaz expressed that he expects the ongoing legal process in the USA to conclude soon, stating that he has accepted Turkey's extradition request and reiterated his desire to return to his country. Korkmaz, who claims that his commercial activities are legal, said, "Today, there are businessmen who have been detained in money laundering operations. The allegation in my case is the same: to launder money obtained from a crime."
WHAT HAD HAPPENED?
Sezgin Baran Korkmaz, who is alleged to have a relationship with a company penalized for tax fraud in the state of Utah, USA, left the country on December 5, 2020, while an investigation for 'money laundering' was ongoing against him in Turkey. On May 2, 2021, after the investigations against him were completed, a prison sentence of up to 7 years and 6 months was requested for Korkmaz for allegedly laundering 132 million dollars through 6 companies.
Korkmaz, who was caught in Austria, was extradited to the USA and was arrested in a case opened with allegations of being involved in "a 1 billion dollar biodiesel fraud, laundering money obtained unfairly as incentives from the tax office, and committing money transfer fraud." Korkmaz was released on August 1, 2023.