31.10.2025 11:39
In Istanbul, a detention order was issued for 10 suspects on the grounds that they established a criminal organization to launder income obtained through illegal means and conducted high-volume suspicious financial transactions, while assets worth 402 million lira were seized.
In Istanbul, a detention order was issued for 10 suspects on the grounds of establishing a criminal organization, laundering income obtained through illegal means, and conducting high-volume suspicious financial transactions, while assets worth 402 million lira were seized.
In a written statement from the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was noted that within the scope of the investigation numbered 2025/81976 conducted by the Office for the Prevention of the Financing of Terrorism and Money Laundering, strong suspicion of criminal proceeds being laundered through Ozan Electronic Money Inc. was identified.
The statement expressed that the status of the electronic money institution was evaluated as being used to introduce assets derived from crime into the financial system under the guise of legitimate commercial activities.
CRIMINAL PROCEEDS WERE INCLUDED IN THE SYSTEM THROUGH VIRTUAL POS
In the Chief Public Prosecutor's statement, it was reported that the reports prepared by the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK), the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey (CBRT), and independent auditing firms were examined together, and it was determined that criminal proceeds were included in the system through virtual POS devices.
According to the reports, it was found that high-value recurring transactions made with cards from high-risk countries such as Libya and Iraq were not blocked, and despite alarms being generated, necessary actions were not taken, and the same cards were used in different member workplaces in quick succession. The statement indicated that these transactions "were characterized more by money transfer and POS loan sharking rather than genuine commercial activity."
In the Chief Public Prosecutor's statement, it was recorded that a flow of money was provided under the name of "insurance premium" through Ozan Özerk, the owner of Ozan Electronic Money Inc., who is a partner in Aveon Global Insurance Inc., and that this structure was controlled through London-based Aveon Global Holding.
OPERATION AGAINST 10 SUSPECTS, SEIZURE DECISION FOR 7 COMPANIES
As a result of the conducted financial analyses, a total of approximately 402 million TL worth of assets belonging to 7 companies, 3 residences, 5 plots of land, and 4 vehicles were identified. It was stated that a simultaneous operation was carried out on October 31, 2025, against 10 suspects and 7 companies, and asset seizure procedures were implemented.
In the statement, as a result of the evaluations made, it was concluded that Ozan Electronic Money Inc. played an active role in the inclusion of criminal proceeds into the financial system, and it was reported that the Istanbul Duty Magistrate's Court decided to appoint a trustee to the company by the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (SDIF).