A lawsuit against the gambling gang led by Halil Falyalı.

The indictment regarding 250 defendants, including Halil Falyalı and his wife, who were killed in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) as part of an illegal gambling investigation, as well as the manager of a casino, has been accepted by the Ankara 20th Criminal Court of First Instance.

In the prepared indictment, the Ministry of Treasury and Finance and the Sports Toto Organization were listed as complainants. According to the indictment concerning the 250 defendants, including 35 leaders of the criminal organization, the investigation was initiated against the criminal organization identified for 'violating Law No. 7258 on the Regulation of Betting and Games of Chance in Football and Other Sports Competitions' and 'laundering assets derived from crime.' The indictment stated that the criminal organization, founded and managed by Halil Falyalı, who was killed on February 8, 2022, in the TRNC, transferred the assets obtained from illegal gambling to the bank accounts of its members.

CRIMINAL PROCEEDS WERE LAUNDERED THROUGH TURKEY

According to the indictment, funds converted into cryptocurrency through bank accounts were transferred to Falyalı and 10 defendants' cryptocurrency wallets through various transactions. The report prepared by the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) indicated that 218 real persons deposited 2 billion 583 million 66 thousand lira in 118,148 transactions to 3 cryptocurrency exchanges and withdrew 90 million 813 thousand lira in 4,462 transactions. Thus, it was determined that 2 billion 492 million 252 thousand 664 lira was deposited into the mentioned cryptocurrency exchanges. It was noted that the accounts involved in the crime had transfer relationships with very short time intervals, and these transfers were not one-way but progressed in mutual and cross-relationships, with accounts being used in short time intervals and then closed. Due to the timing of these transactions, it was determined that they could not be performed manually, and the accounts were operated through software. The indictment stated that Falyalı, who opened an account at a Malta-based cryptocurrency exchange on November 26, 2020, had a balance of 642.3 Bitcoin, and after his death, 40 Bitcoin was withdrawn from Falyalı's account by his wife, Özge Taşker Falyalı. It was expressed that the criminal proceeds obtained from illegal gambling and illegal games of chance played abroad were laundered in Turkey through banking transactions, companies, and cryptocurrency exchanges by those who assisted the criminal organization.

REQUEST FOR UP TO 51 YEARS AND 9 MONTHS OF IMPRISONMENT

In the indictment, it was stated that the investigation against Halil Falyalı was terminated due to his death on February 8, 2022; however, according to the provision in the Turkish Penal Code stating, 'In the event of the defendant's death, the public case shall be dismissed. However, regarding items and material benefits subject to confiscation by their nature, the case may continue, and a ruling may be made for their confiscation,' sufficient evidence has been obtained to open a public case regarding the confiscation of the profits in the bank accounts, payment institutions, and cryptocurrency service providers held by him from the crime he committed. While a prison sentence of up to 51 years and 9 months is requested for the defendants for the crimes of 'establishing and managing an armed organization for the purpose of committing a crime,' 'laundering assets derived from crime,' 'violating Law No. 7258 on the Regulation of Betting and Games of Chance in Football and Other Sports Competitions,' and 'knowingly and willingly aiding the criminal organization without being a member,' 19 companies belonging to the defendants were also held financially responsible for the alleged crimes. The first hearing of the case accepted by the Ankara 20th Criminal Court of First Instance will be held on December 19.