25.12.2025 10:35
As part of the fight against cybercrime, a regulation granting prosecutors the authority to freeze and seize bank accounts has been published in the Official Gazette and has come into effect. Accordingly, prosecutors can suspend bank, payment, and cryptocurrency accounts for 48 hours if there is suspicion of qualified fraud, theft, or credit card offenses. In cases where delays are deemed problematic, they can request seizure without waiting for a judge's decision.
With the Turkish Penal Code and the Law Amending Certain Laws and Decree Law No. 631, which was published in the Official Gazette and came into force, new powers have been granted to prosecutors regarding bank accounts. According to the news reported by NTV, with this regulation, it has become possible to suspend accounts that are believed to contain benefits obtained through cyber crimes and to seize these accounts.
BANK ACCOUNTS CAN BE FROZEN FOR 48 HOURS
According to the provision added to the Code of Criminal Procedure, prosecutors can freeze bank accounts for 48 hours if there is suspicion regarding crimes such as qualified theft, qualified fraud, and misuse of credit cards. During this process, prosecutors can request the suspension of suspicious accounts from banks, payment service providers, and cryptocurrency service providers.
It was stated that institutions are obliged to share all necessary information and documents upon the prosecutor's request. If there is an attempt to transfer from the suspicious account to another account while the suspension process is ongoing, it was noted that service providers will report this situation to the prosecutor's office. The suspension process will also be notified to the account holder. In case the account holder files an objection, the prosecutor's office will make a decision on the application within 24 hours.
SEIZED AMOUNTS CAN BE CONFISCATED
Additionally, under the law, it has been regulated that in cases where there is a risk of delay, the seized amount can be confiscated upon the prosecutor's request without waiting for a judge's decision. It was stated that an objection can be made to the confiscation process carried out without a judge's decision within 24 hours, and the judge will decide on this objection within 48 hours.